Tape has Bridges offering Ross way back

National Party leader Simon Bridges denies he put his former MP Jami-Lee Ross ahead of women complainants who allege Ross mistreated them.

A new, incomplete recording was released yesterday, with Ross talking to Bridges and deputy leader Paula Bennett before the Botany MP took medical leave from Parliament in early October.

They discuss Ross’ alleged harassment and Bridges implores him to take leave until next year, citing medical reasons. If Ross did so, Bridges says, he would not tell the media why Ross was away.

“I give you my 100 per cent assurance that if you go with the statement along the lines we’ve talked about, I will never badmouth you in relation to this — privately, publicly, in background, off the record in any way,” Bridges says on the recording, which was obtained by MediaWorks.

Bennett told Ross that leave would be the best course, and if he didn’t accept, the issue would go before caucus. They also discuss Ross’ treatment of women.

“You haven’t even told me what I’ve supposedly done,” Ross says.

Bennett replies: “Simon told you all about the disloyalty stuff, JamiLee, and quite frankly if that was put to caucus, that would be enough.”

It is unclear what the “disloyalty” refers to, because the conversation was before Ross was fingered as the likely leaker of Bridges’ travel expenses. Ross rejects any suggestion that he had harassed staff. “That is the worst. I don’t even know what that is,” he says.

After the tape’s release, Bridges denied prioritising Ross or the party’s reputation over the complainants and their allegations.

“We were dealing with a very serious, complex matter and balancing and factoring in allegations of inappropriate and disruptive conduct with very serious health matters,” he told Newstalk ZB.

“I know that we were acting in accordance with the women’s interests and what they wanted . . .”

In the tape, Bridges and Bennett state repeatedly that they are concerned about Ross’ mental health and tell him if he follows their instructions he could return to Parliament next year, perhaps even to the front bench.

The Botany MP has been expelled from the National Party but plans to return to Parliament as an independent.

He remains on sick leave.