Winston Peter's testimony lacking Baubles

By Rod Emmerson

Winston Peters has given his usual bluster and bluff at tonight's Privileges Committee hearing into the Owen Glenn donation scandal.

He has called Owen Glenn a liar, without actually using the word "lie", has provided conflicting information Owen Glenn's testimony yesterday and introduced spin and accusations-all without corroborating evidence.

His demeanor was unusually quiet pensive and bumbling at times. He seemed to have been de-baubled somewhat and may be completely tomorrow as Helen Clark looks set to sack him.

There were however flashes of the old battler in parts of his testimony.

Clark and her Labour party President Mike Williams have also been implicated deeper into the donation scandal. Glenn ascertained yesterday that Mike Williams arranged the donation and that Clark had been aware in December 2005 not February 2008.

Related Political Animal reading

Winston Peters testimony to Sept 10 Privileges Committee

c Political Animal 2008

NZ HERALD: Owen Glenn press conference

The press conference at the Hilton at 10.00am today that reinforced Owen Glenn's assertions against Winston Peters given at the Privileges hearing yesterday.

Owen Glenn's press conference

Owen Glenn with his executive assistant Laura Ede at today's media conference. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Updated 2:09PM Wednesday September 10, 2008

By Edward Gay

Labour Party president Mike Williams denies he sought a job from Owen Glenn earlier this year. Mr Glenn today claimed Mr Williams had asked him for a job when he visited him on his yacht in France in July this year. "You're going to love this," Mr Glenn told a press conference in Auckland this… More

• Owen Glenn's press conference

NZ HERALD: Peters/Glenn saga wrap

A wrap of yesterday and this mornings coverage of the Peters/Glenn Donation saga from the New Zealand Herald. 

Including breaking stories and new information about Labour Party president Mike Williams deeper involvement.

Dramatic damning evidence against Winston Peters was provided by Owen Glenn yesterday.

Phone records, affidavits and written evidence backing Glenn's continued claims that he gave $100,000 to Peters and that Peters had been aware of that donation back in 2005 when he solicited it,  in July 2008, as he has ascertained.

Today Peters will give his rejoinder to the Privileges Committee to Glenn's statements made yesterday and he will have to spin and or fight the hardest he has ever fought for his political future.

Peters donation row website

More

Latest Coverage:

• Peters makes donation admission 

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Owen Glenn. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Crucifix at hand as Glenn enters the lions' den

A tiny crucifix sits on the desk in front of Owen Glenn. It is wooden with a silver Christ and is the first thing he gets out when he sits down and the first thing he picks up… More

Peters makes donation admission 

4:00AM Wednesday September 10, 2008

By Patrick Gower

Winston Peters has for the first time admitted some knowledge of the Spencer Trust and its $80,000 donation…More

• Peters rails against 'prejudiced' Privileges Committee

Glenn's version: How the deal was done

4:00AM Wednesday September 10, 2008

By Patrick Gower

AUGUST 12, 2005 Winston Peters and Mr Glenn meet for the first time in Sydney before Bledisloe Cup test. Meeting was asked for by Mr Peters' adviser Roger McClay. Mr Glenn consulted Labour Party… More

c NZ Herald & Political Animal 2008

Phone records contradict Peters 

Monaco-based businessman Owen Glenn presented compelling evidence at Parliament yesterday suggesting New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has lied over what he knew of the billionaire's $100,0000 donation. Mr Glenn arrived at the privileges committee…More

• Peters rails against 'prejudiced' Privileges Committee

Mike Williams knew of Glenn donation in 2005, did Clark?

In  an admission by Owen Glenn today he has revealed that he had consulted with Labour Party president Mike Williams before contributing $100,000 to New Zealand First/Winston Peters so it would not be seen by Labour as "being unhelpful to its own interests".

This is interesting because it marries up with the fact that Williams boss, Helen Clark, knew about the Glenn donation back in February. 

Both Clark and Williams therefore withheld sensitive damning evidence from New Zealanders to preserve Clark's Government.

It also begs the questions did Williams tell Clark about the donation in 2005? It is not Helen Clark's style not to know everything going on regarding her party. She simply demands complete control and it defies logic and her political history for her not to have known about the Glenn donation, in 2005.

It is time Clark was forced to give evidence in her defence about what she knew and when she knew it before the Privileges Commission.

Kiwis wanna know before an election.

Williams begged Glenn for a further contribution to the Labour Party less than 2 months ago.

c Political Animal 2008