McClay had no recollection of when he learned who Whitney was, but Key recalled telling him he would hear from "my lawyer". On the second, Key claimed he told Whitney he was not aware of any regime review plans, and the apparent discrepancy was "sloppy" wording.
What Labour was trying to get was evidence, or even the perception, that McClay felt pressured into meeting Whitney and dropping a review of foreign trust laws.
Key insisted that was not the case and claimed Inland Revenue's proposed review was a "footnote". Labour, meanwhile, provided a paper in which Inland Revenue listed it on its "action plan" just before it was dropped.
By the end of it, all we still knew was Whitney name-dropped Key when lobbying the Revenue Minister about foreign trusts.
What was more puzzling was why Labour ignored an easier hit. Last week Labour's David Cunliffe revealed two foreign buyers found criminally responsible for pollution in Argentina were allowed to buy a farm in Taranaki.
That resulted in a minister ordering a "please explain" from the Overseas Investment Office an hour before Key boasted about the robustness of the OIO's processes to the Institute of International Affairs.
As for Whitney, the glory of having the "by Prime Ministerial appointment" stamp quickly soured when Key threw him under the bus.
Meanwhile, if anyone wants the PM's ear, join the Koru Club.
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