Cullen sets trap for Speaker on day one

Labour's Michael Cullen wasted no time in testing the mettle of Speaker Lockwood Smith when the new Parliament sat for the first time yesterday.

Dr Smith had been in the chair for all of five minutes when Dr Cullen - an expert in Parliament's rules - raised a point of order.

The misdemeanour was committed by the Leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee, who had tabled a notice of motion and then sat down, accidentally forfeiting his right to speak to it.

After an argument, Dr Smith eventually ruled in Dr Cullen's favour. Mr Brownlee was not to speak.

Having got first points on the board in the battle of the pedants, Dr Cullen then sought permission for Mr Brownlee to be able to speak after all.

It may have left Dr Smith wishing he had shown more of the traditional reluctance expected from those chosen to take the job when he was elected the day before.

Instead he had made an almost unseemly rush towards the big chair at the front of the debating chamber to take the job widely regarded as compensation for not including him in the Cabinet.

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[bigbadbananaboy]

Lockwood, your wig looks ridiculous.

[sxcboy4u]

its funny how the labour guy ended up being right lol

[MrLimtindsay]

Lol that's good form. What an intellect. Big respect - it's good to see our MPs knowing the rules that govern their mud-slinging. Eloquent and to the point. Fantastic.

[LABOURSUPPORTER]

Ha Ha Ha. Dr.Cullen is a little Like our Dennis Skinner.

[LesMillsHuttCity]

hell yeah. Lockwood smith is the man.

[tamaolemaa]

Parting shot from Cullen lol one must take his small pleasures when they present  themselves. Especially with such a worthy candidate as Mr Brownarse.

[moomar1]

There was no trap and I think Rodney out maneuvered him nicely...

[KURarEp]

Cullen is and always will be one of the top politicians New Zealand will see

And taser will never avert future incidents

because when you have a strong ambition like him you will never go away.

[markzwarriors]

Typical cullen attention seeking crap.

The speaker should be armed with a taser, to avert future such incidents