O'Connor resigns via text message?

**Fub@r** · 11th September 2007, 10:27

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4197988a10.html

BREAKING NEWS: Under-fire Corrections minister Damien O'Connor offered Prime Minister Helen Clark his resignation via text message this morning, which she refused.

O'Connor texted the prime minister from Hong Kong on his return from a parliamentary rugby team trip, on which he was controversially accompanied by a prison officer who had been stood down as part of an inquiry into corruption.

Her text reply is understood to have been: "I don't accept it."

Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor looks set to hold on to his portfolio for now, but is still tipped to be a casualty in the prime minister's looming Cabinet reshuffle.

Mr O'Connor arrives back in New Zealand today.

The rugby trip debacle comes as Labour struggles in the polls, prompting Miss Clark to put all her ministers on notice to perform.

Mr O'Connor faced calls for his sacking after it was revealed that he chose to play rugby in France with suspended prison officer Jim Morgan.

Mr Morgan's wife, Marie, is Mr O'Connor's senior private secretary, which led to Mr O'Connor delegating responsibility for the prison corruption inquiry to Cabinet colleague Clayton Cosgrove two months ago.

However, that separation appeared to have given him the confidence to go ahead with the rugby trip, which Miss Clark said was "a problem" and "not a good call. I am always irritated when a minister causes problems that are needless, and if advice had been sought on this one then there would have been a different outcome."

The gaffe comes at a critical time for Labour; it is behind National in the polls, the latest of which put National leader John Key ahead of Miss Clark as preferred prime minister, and Mr O'Connor's actions overshadowed Miss Clark's Apec trip.

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**Skyryder** · 11th September 2007, 12:11

What happened to the innocent until guilty presumption. Bad call Helen. Your response just looks as if you no longer have any control over your Ministers. This was a recretional sporting event had no political consequences at all. Perfect opputunity to have a go at Nationals pettyness but you blew it by responding in the manner that you did. Wake up Lady before it's too late.

Skyryder

**McJim** · 11th September 2007, 12:18

What the F*ck has a rugby match got to do with running the country?

Why can't the polititans concentrate on improving the lot of New Zealanders instead of needless, mindless mud slinging. Labour's position should be "So what" instead of internal scapegoat hunting.

Seriously - next election - regardless of policy - my vote will go to the party that slung the least amount of shit in the campaign.

**Devil** · 11th September 2007, 14:16

How professional are these c*nts in parliament that they think resignation by text message is acceptable?

**Coldrider** · 11th September 2007, 14:25

Aunty Heleingrad will want to infract him face to face (put on her scary face).

**Fub@r** · 11th September 2007, 14:28

Originally Posted by Skyryder

Your response just looks as if you no longer have any control over your Ministers.

The ministers are only there for show, most of them seem to be incompetant

Helen probably text this back "Bro, it's 2 l8 4 dat. C me in da morning - H"

**Finn** · 11th September 2007, 14:45

It went something like this...

sry 4 Fkng ^ hellN. twas realy lamo. DY wnt me 2 resign?

And what was Helen’s reply?

vry lamo idd Damien. bt nt as lamo as George on hs bst dy so I won’t sak u.