Jones staying on as MP
Labour Party MPs Shane Jones is staying on as an MP following his leader Phil Goff's decision to demote him and strip him of portfolios after misusing taxpayer-funded credit cards while a minister.Mr Jones will lose his environment and economic developmen
Labour Party MPs Shane Jones is staying on as an MP following his leader Phil Goff's decision to demote him and strip him of portfolios after misusing taxpayer-funded credit cards while a minister.
Mr Jones will lose his environment and economic development portfolios following a release of documents last Thursday showing misspending. Two other MPs, Chris Carter and Mita Ririnui, have also been demoted.
Colleagues had expressed disappointment, but had not urged Mr Jones to quit, he said.
"I've let my own standards down, and I don't know really what else to say, I've got to cop it," he told reporters.
"Phil's made his call."
Mr Jones' spending included pay-per-view pornographic movies while staying in hotels, while Mr Carter was shown to have racked up large bills while travelling overseas on numerous trips, although he held largely domestic portfolios like education.
Mr Jones paid back more than $5000.
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