“Phil Goff’s political judgment deserted him when he allowed Darren Hughes to be a member of the parliamentary team arguing “politics is a grubby business” for a high-profile earthquake fund-raising debate when he knew the MP was already involved in a behind-the-scenes probe into sexual misconduct allegations…..

“Goff’s inability to apply consistent standards has also left him facing charges of hypocrisy. Unlike the Richard Worth affair, Hughes has not been accused of operating a political casting couch.

“But in Worth’s case, Goff showed no mercy when demanded why John Key did not take his Cabinet minister’s warrants from him the moment he knew he was facing allegations from two women.

“Goff now says he got it wrong and that “people are entitled to be regarded as innocent until they’re proven guilty”.

“It is a pity that the Labour leader did not apply that reasoning in 2009 when he failed to supply any real evidence to back his own allegation that Worth tried to entice the “strikingly beautiful” Labour activist Neelam Choudary with the offer of a job on the Lottery Grants Board. But that was then.”

Source: NZ Herald Opinon Piece by Fran O’Sullivan. Saturday 26 March. “It’s all about the country – not the sleazy politics.” For full article see: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10714939