Mortally wounded

What a shabby state of affairs the secret recording between Simon Bridges and Jami-Lee Ross has exposed. One can imagine the offence that might be created not only to the two current Indian MPs but also to the Indian community when Ross described Chinese as being potentially more valuable MPs than Indians. Bridges did not disagree. Perhaps the most alarming aspect of the tape is the perception among some in the Chinese community that political influence can be bought. All it takes is some hefty donations. Favourable candidate selection is the expected quid pro quo.

Bridges is mortally wounded. He will not survive these unwise and offensive musings. He is not leadership material. Also some of the inner workings of the National Party around donations have been held up to the public gaze. I don’t believe that many reasonable people will approve of what they see. Our democratic election processes are not for sale. And according to Ross there are more unsavoury details to come.

Diana Walford, Greenlane.