Bridges, Slater in ‘brief’ Ross chat
Call confirms blogger’s role in Nats drama
The Jami-Lee Ross saga has forced National Party leader Simon Bridges into conversation with right-wing attack blogger Cameron Slater, who is in close contact with the rogue and unwell MP.
Bridges’ office confirmed to the Herald that Bridges called Slater to assure the blogger decisions about Ross had been made after taking proper medical advice.
The phone call confirms Slater’s key role in the Ross affair, which has caused National more than a week of anxiety and chaos.
Slater has long-standing grievances against National, despite being close to many of its MPs at one stage and a text confidante with former Prime Minister Sir John Key.
It is believed Slater has been personally supporting Ross since the weekend and his assistance extended to helping the MP in his release from Middlemore Hospital’s mental health facilities on Tuesday.
Slater’s role has also extended to briefing media on aspects of the Ross saga. It puts the blogger back in a prime position of influence after years in the wilderness following the 2014 publication of Dirty Politics, which contained allegations of dirty tricks and political hit jobs.
He has been a pariah with National ever since.
Bridges’ call to Slater came after the Whale Oil blogger wrote a blog post promising retribution on National for what he saw as its role in Ross’ deteriorating mental health and fall from grace.
The phone call between Bridges and Slater came after Slater obtained access to text messages held by Ross.
A spokesman said: “Mr Bridges contacted Mr Slater to make clear that he acted on appropriate medical advice throughout this process.”
The spokesman would not say if other matters were discussed: “It was a brief conversation focused on Mr Ross’ health.”
The call was referred to by Slater in a blog post in which he accused National of arranging publication of the claims by the four women who spoke out about Ross’ behaviour.
Slater wrote: “When I spoke to Simon Bridges on Monday he was continuing to deny a hit job.”
The only text message held by Ross to have emerged since the MP went into mental-health care was the subject of a Checkpoint story on Radio NZ on Tuesday. The text was released by an anonymous person with the permission of Ross, who was still in mental-health care at the time.
It was purportedly from the National MP who Ross claimed to have had an affair with and included personal slurs.
The story brought a storm of criticism on social media, with “dirty politics” claims and accusations the text had come from Slater.
A Radio NZ spokesman would not reveal sources but said the decision to run it was based on information from “multiple sources”.
Other media did not follow the story but Slater, on his blog, used it as a springboard to attack the MP for sending a “disgusting text message”.
Even before Dirty Politics, Key wanted distance between Slater and the party after the blogger and socalled political strategist Simon Lusk began training MPs for cash.
Lusk has been another Dirty Politics figure to emerge during the Ross saga. Lusk, who advertises himself as able to remove politicians from office, has provided advice to Ross.
He had previously advised Ross and was believed to be, with Slater, close to him before his challenge for the Botany electorate candidacy.
Millionaire and Seventh Day Adventist church leader Paul Honnor is another to emerge as a link between Ross and Slater, and is also believed to have been involved in coordinating support for the nowindependent MP. Honnor supported Slater when his security business went into liquidation.
Honnor disconnected the call when asked for comment. Slater did not return a request for comment.
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Electoral Commission confirmed yesterday it had been contacted by police in connection with a complaint laid by Ross about a $100,000 electoral donation. The commission said it would provide advice as required.
Police declined to comment on their investigation.