Labour MP Gaurav Sharma claims he is being silenced as he drops bombshell allegations of bullying in the Labour Party.
In an exclusive interview with Newshub, Dr Sharma revealed a list of five questions he has for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who he accuses of creating a cover-up culture.
His five questions are:
- What is the Prime Minister hiding that she doesn't want an investigation?
- Why don't they investigate Dr Gaurav Sharma about staffing issues he has repeatedly asked for so that he can get a fair trial?
- Why did the independent Parliamentary Services share with the Labour Party the details about his whistle-blowing about Parliamentary misuse of funds?
- Despite screenshots now coming out which show that Labour Party caucus members have been bullied by Kieran McAnulty, why would the Prime Minister not do an investigation against this person who she's now gone on to promote?
- When the Prime Minister said that he would get a fair trial at the caucus meeting, why was she lying?
Last week, Dr Sharma claimed the Parliamentary Service "promoted and facilitated" bullying, including between MPs, "by working behind the scenes" with party Whips' offices, leaders' offices and the Prime Minister's Office, he said in a NZ Herald column.
Dr Sharma was suspended from Labour's caucus on Tuesday after a last-minute meeting was held to decide his political fate. Ardern said he had broken the trust of his colleagues, although he may be able to return to caucus in December if this trust is restored.
In response to Newshub's queries following Dr Sharma's latest allegations, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said he is using the media to make his points.
"On Tuesday the Caucus suspended Gaurav on the basis of repeated breaches of trust. This latest example of releasing and misrepresenting conversations with his colleagues reinforces that decision and will be discussed by caucus," the spokesperson said.
"As the Prime Minister said on Tuesday we anticipated Gaurav would continue to re-litigating matters in this way. He has still not responded to our communications about entering into mediation, instead using the media to make his points."
Dr Sharma is aware it may leave Labour with no option but to expel him.
"Yeah, what I'm asking is [for] a fair trial and that's what I'm focussed on."
He also doesn't think he will regret it.
"No, why should I regret it? … Why should I be the one hiding my face? I haven't done anything wrong."
