Gilmore says he'll quit Parliament
Embattled list MP falls on sword after phone call with National Party president Peter Goodfellow. PLUS: Who's next on National list.
Embattled National List MP Aaron Gilmore says he will resign from Parliament.
VIDEO: Watch Aaron Gilmore's resignation speech
The MP made a statement to media, reportedly after talking by phone to National Party president Peter Goodfellow this afternoon.
It reads: "It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I announce my intention to resign from Parliament.
"After taking counsel from colleagues and family in recent days, I have decided that to stay on in Parliament would only serve to cause my loved ones more upset, and cause me undeserved further stress.
"I have made mistakes. I am human. But the attacks on my integrity have started taking a toll on those around me and this is unfair on them.
"I also want to make clear my support for the National Party and Prime Minister John Key remains unwavering."
Mr Gilmore will met with caucus and formalise arrangements tomorrow.
His voluntary resignation gets the Prime Minister out of a political jam.
John Key was strongly critical of Mr Gilmore's behaviour at a dinner in Christchurch, and his subsequent account of events to his chief-of-staff - but the rules of MMP mean a list MP can only be expelled from a party, not from Parliament.
Friday saw fresh trouble for the Christchurch-based list MP as email correspondence from his time working for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employement was released to NBR and other media following Official Information Act requests. The requests were fulfilled with unusual speed.
First drop on National's list is Maori businesswoman Claudette Hauiti.
NBR staff
Sun, 12 May 2013
Sun, 12 May 2013
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Gilmore says he'll quit Parliament
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