Wednesday, 8 July 2020

New Zealand First deny hiring pro-Brexit campaigners Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore

Jacinda Ardern    the Prime Minister of New Zealand describes herself as a social democrat and a progressive. and her Labour–NZ First Government has focused particularly on the New Zealand housing crisis, child poverty, and social inequality. In March 2019, she led the country through the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shootings, rapidly introducing strict gun laws in response. 

She has been praised world wise for or her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand.

This has been reflected in opinion polls    conducted in January to early February, well before the coronavirus crisis began. Those polls had the governing Labour party one to five points behind the opposition National.

What a difference the handling of the coronavirus crisis has made! In two polls conducted in early to mid-May, Labour had 56.5% in a Reid Research poll and 59% in a Colmar Brunton poll, while National was respectively at 30.6% and 29%. Since the previous iterations of these polls, Labour is up 18 points in Colmar Brunton and up 14 


Arden has steered New Zealand despite being coalition with New Zealand Firs a  is a nationalist and populistt party whose  leader Winston Peters agreed to form a coalition with Labour,making Ardern the next prime minister.] This coalition receives confidence and supply from the Green Party. Ardern named Peters as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. She also gave New Zealand First five posts in her government, with Peters and three other ministers serving in the cabinet

But there are rumours that outside interest seeking yo inter fear in the forthcoming New Zealand General Election


News Hub reports that 

Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore are promising to bring mischief and mayhem to our election. Credits: Image - Getty; Video - Newshub

Winston Peters has denied New Zealand First hired pro-Brexit campaigners Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore who plan to bring "mischief, mayhem and guerrilla warfare" to the New Zealand election.

Banks, co-founder of the Leave.EU campaign which advocated for the UK to leave the European Union, told The Telegraph a team had been dispatched to Auckland to help bring New Zealand First's vote share to as high as 12 percent.

"We have deployed our top social media team and data experts to do all the creative work, Andy and I are giving Winston strategic advice," he said. "Since 2016 we have known Winston, he is a huge supporter of the Commonwealth and watched first-hand the referendum campaign

But in a statement released on Tuesday, Peters "scoffed" at suggestions a team of six political operatives had been dispatched to Auckland, because "it is impossible to see how they would even gain entry into the country". 

Banks was one of the largest donors to the UK Independence Party, which The Telegraph described as the UK's version of New Zealand First. Banks helped former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage's pro-Brexit campaign. 

The insurance executive was cleared nine months ago of any criminality by the UK's National Crime Agency over £8 million (NZ$15.2 million) in EU referendum campaign funding. 

Banks described Peters as a "more seasoned version of Farage with massive government experience" and likened him to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 

"He is one of very few current politicians that speaks fluent human and can relate to anyone, he's in the same mould as Boris they speak truth on behalf of the ordinary people. He is always on the side of the people."

Andy Wigmore, communications director for Leave.EU who describes himself on Twitter as the "Bad Boy of Brexit", told The Telegraph New Zealand could expect "trouble" from them at the September election. st consider opening borders soon mage - Getty; Video - Newshub

Winston Peters has denied New Zealand First hired pro-Brexit campaigners Arron Banks and Andy Wigmore who plan to bring "mischief, mayhem and guerrilla warfare" to the New Zealand election.

Banks, co-founder of the Leave.EU campaign which advocated for the UK to leave the European Union, told The Telegraph a team had been dispatched to Auckland to help bring New Zealand First's vote share to as high as 12 percent.

"We have deployed our top social media team and data experts to do all the creative work, Andy and I are giving Winston strategic advice," he said. "Since 2016 we have known Winston, he is a huge supporter of the Commonwealth and watched first-hand the referendum campaign."

But in a statement released on Tuesday, Peters "scoffed" at suggestions a team of six political operatives had been dispatched to Auckland, because "it is impossible to see how they would even gain entry into the country". 

Banks was one of the largest donors to the UK Independence Party, which The Telegraph described as the UK's version of New Zealand First. Banks helped former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage's pro-Brexit campaign. 

The insurance executive was cleared nine months ago of any criminality by the UK's National Crime Agency over £8 million (NZ$15.2 million) in EU referendum campaign funding. 

Banks described Peters as a "more seasoned version of Farage with massive government experience" and likened him to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 

"He is one of very few current politicians that speaks fluent human and can relate to anyone, he's in the same mould as Boris they speak truth on behalf of the ordinary people. He is always on the side of the people."

Andy Wigmore, communications director for Leave.EU who describes himself on Twitter as the "Bad Boy of Brexit", told The Telegraph New Zealand could expect "trouble" from them at the September election. 

"I'm going to be on ground in New Zealand causing trouble - mischief, mayhem and guerrilla warfare in the New Zealand election - the bad boys are back."

Peters' statement said New Zealand First would make no further 

But in a statement released on Tuesday, Peters "scoffed" at suggestions a team of six political operatives had been dispatched to Auckland, because "it is impossible to see how they would even gain entry into the country". 

Banks was one of the largest donors to the UK Independence Party, which The Telegraph described as the UK's version of New Zealand First. Banks helped former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage's pro-Brexit campaign. 

The insurance executive was cleared nine months ago of any criminality by the UK's National Crime Agency over £8 million (NZ$15.2 million) in EU referendum campaign funding. 

Banks described Peters as a "more seasoned version of Farage with massive government experience" and likened him to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. 

"He is one of very few current politicians that speaks fluent human and can relate to anyone, he's in the same mould as Boris they speak truth on behalf of the ordinary people. He is always on the side of the people."

Andy Wigmore, communications director for Leave.EU who describes himself on Twitter as the "Bad Boy of Brexit", told The Telegraph New Zealand could expect "trouble" from them at the September election. 

Andy Wigmore, communications director for Leave.EU who describes himself on Twitter as the "Bad Boy of Brexit", told The Telegraph New Zealand could expect "trouble" from them at the September election. 

Banks, according to The Telegraph, accused Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of being groomed for a bigger job at an international body like the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

The Prime Minister denied that's her intention and pushed back against the campaigners' claims of coming to New Zealand. 

"I wouldn't necessarily make an assumption that someone offshore that's touting for work is ultimately going to be able to do what they claim."

The latest Newshub-Reid Research Poll showed New Zealand First on 2.7 percent which is below the 5 percent threshold to get into Parliament on the party vote. 

On that percentage, New Zealand First would need to win an electorate seat to get in, and Labour leader Ardern has ruled out a special Epsom-like deal to help the to help him.


Whether Peters has done a deal with Banks or it's just Banks boasting again it sems likely that New Zealand  First will benefit from the allegations .

If i was Nicola Sturgeon I would be keeping an eye Banks as well as it seems likely it would be easier  for him to influence the 2020  Holyrood Election .

It would be a huge crime against democracy if two iof the most outstanding  politicians who have led the response to the Covid-19 virus should be targeted by out side interest.

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