‘I thought I knew him’: Macindoe
A Hamilton MP says Jami-Lee Ross is ‘‘one deluded individual’’ and despite his attempts to sabotage its reputation, the National Party is ‘‘more united than ever’’.
The comments come on the back of a week-long saga which has seen Ross accuse party leader Simon Bridges of corruption and in turn be accused of abuse and harassment.
‘‘It was not only a former colleague but it was a former colleague whom I worked closely with,’’ Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe said of Ross.
‘‘I thought I knew him. I now realise I barely knew him at all.’’
On Monday, Bridges named Ross as the MP who, according to an internal investigation, had leaked the leader’s travel expenses.
Ross released a secret recording in which Bridges slated some of his MPs, most notably describing his West Coast MP Maureen Pugh as ‘‘f ...... useless’’.
Then website reported four women’s claims of abuse and toxic sexual affairs, accusing Ross of being a narcissist.
In a radio interview on Friday night, Ross admitted to a long-term relationship with an MP and a shorter one with an employee.
Macindoe said at the beginning of the week, the public would have been bewildered. But when the allegations of harassment surfaced, he felt there was a significant change in the public mood.
‘‘The mood shifted to that of a more informed group of people who could really start to see the whole incident for what it was all about – and that is frankly vile behaviour by an isolated individual who proved his unfitness to be an MP.’’
Macindoe felt Ross’ attempts at portraying to the public that all was not well behind the scenes of the National Party fell on deaf ears.
‘‘We’ve been performing incredibly well, I think.
‘‘Our polling was holding up well. All the commentators would acknowledge we’ve been strong in our performances in the House, and we continue to work hard in our electorates.
‘‘And then suddenly this has come and given the impression that all is not well, when in fact the truth is, all was far from well with one very deluded individual.
‘‘It does not reflect the way the rest of us have been and it’s actually had the effect of bringing the rest of us even tighter together.’’
Ross has resigned as a National Party MP but has not resigned from Parliament and will remain on as an MP.
The National Party made the decision to expel Ross on Tuesday but emerged from caucus to find he had resigned.
Macindoe said Ross’ ‘‘inconsistencies and his self-perception have been extraordinary’’.
‘‘We’ve had to lance this particular boil but we’re focused on maintaining our unity.
‘‘I’m concerned that we not only pull together as a team but for those who have been identified as having been victims of bullying treatment and sexual intimidation, we need to be mindful of the fact that they will be needing support in what is a very challenging time for them.’’
‘‘We’ve had to lance this particular boil but we’re focused on maintaining our unity.’’
Hamilton West MP Tim Macindoe