Bill English MP
National Party Deputy Leader

23 January 2008

Who is behind 'The Standard'?

National Party Deputy Leader Bill English says if Labour knows who is behind 'The Standard' then it should say so.

"Bloggers have discovered the anti-National/pro-Government website is using an internet protocol address owned by the Labour Party. Previously, pseudonym-using contributors have repeatedly tried to distance themselves from the Labour Party.

"Now, in what the blogosphere is calling a 'gotcha', we know that Labour is actively supporting this campaigning web-site in election year.

"At the very least, Labour knows who these people are. In the interests of openness and transparency, Labour should make its support public."

Mr English says the public should be allowed to know how close the relationship is between the 'independent' website and the Government.

"The website appears to be a covert third-party campaign, run on the internet with Labour's full knowledge and participation.

"Given Labour has passed its anti-democratic Electoral Finance Act, to stop this sort of activity they may have some explaining to do.

"If Labour is hosting this website, it could be that the site's expenses qualify as election advertising. That may be in breach of the law, given the absence of a proper authorisation statement.

"If Labour knows who is behind 'The Standard', and if there's nothing to hide, it should be more open about the nature of the relationship."

Ends

Link to Kiwiblog discussion on The Standard's isp: