Grant Robertson calls British columnist who attacked Jacinda Ardern an 'idiot'

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has lashed out at British media personality Katie Hopkins, calling her an "idiot" and a "publicity seeker" for her criticisms of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern following the Sri Lanka bombings.

On Sunday, Hopkins tweeted that she expected the Prime Minister to "be dressed as the Pope, ringing church bells across New Zealand and praying in Latin in Parliament by noon".

The comment was a reference to Ardern donning a hijab in a sign of solidarity for Muslim communities in New Zealand after the Christchurch terrorist attack at two mosques last month.

Ardern was silent on Hopkins' comments yesterday, but Robertson didn't hold back this morning.

"She is an idiot," Robertson told the AM Show.

"I am not sure if she thinks that Jacinda is the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka as well as the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

"Katie Hopkins is a publicity seeker, and I hope that's the last time I say her name on TV."

Robertson said everyone should have the freedom to worship and follow their religious beliefs without the threat of being targeted.

"The fact is, it doesn't matter to me whether you are worshipping in a mosque or worshipping in a catholic church. You have a right to be able to do that and express your faith," he told the AM Show.

"In New Zealand, it was a mosque and I think the Prime Minister behaved completely appropriately in those circumstances, and we have expressed our devastation at what's happened."

Many Twitter users defended Ardern in response to Hopkins' comment.

Whatever the Prime Minister does will be immeasurably more welcome and useful than anything you have ever said.

— Terry Baucher (@Trabaq) April 21, 2019

One said: "Whatever the Prime Minister does will be immeasurably more welcome and useful than anything you have ever said."

Piss off.

If this dreadful event had happened in NZ, & especially if our parliament was complicit because of our lax gun laws, then our PM would be leading the nation through its grieving & empathising with the victims' families. As it is, our country will express sympathy.

— Suzanne Robins (@SuzanneRobins1) April 21, 2019

Just when we all think you can't go any lower you do.
BTW just in case you were unaware, Jacinda is not the PM of Sri Lanka and you trying to spin some sort of media conspiracy is just indicative of how corrupt YOU are. Also dense, really really dense.

— Wendy Andresen (@WendyWings) April 21, 2019

You are a walking hate crime.

Be a better person FFS

— Paul Le Comte (@five15design) April 21, 2019