John Armstrong: Horan rises from death row to get one over Peters

Brendan Horan. Photo / APN

Is Brendan Horan going to devote his remaining time in Parliament to being a regular thorn in Winston Peters' side?

That will be no easy task given Peters' many political battles down the years have left him with a political hide as thick and seemingly impenetrable as those of several rhinos combined.

Yet, on his first day back in Parliament since being thrown out of NZ First's caucus and having his party membership summarily rescinded, Horan managed to exact a small measure of revenge.

His new seat is at the very back of the chamber. Any further back and he would be firmly embedded in the wood panelling. It is Parliament's equivalent of death row - a place where parties dispatch mavericks, the overly rebellious and walking embarrassments to see out their days before their date with the electoral Grim Reaper.

No one banished to this holding pen has ever looked as pleased to be there as Horan, however. That might have been down to the former TV weatherman's ready smile. It might have been down to him knowing what would happen next.

He bided his time, waiting until Peters rose to question the Prime Minister about claims that passengers arriving on China Southern Airlines are being fast-tracked through border security.

Like a dog with its head down a rabbit-hole, Peters had been so consumed with challenging the validity of John Key's replies that he did not notice the figure five rows behind him was about to upstage him.

"Does the Prime Minister agree that natural justice and due process are relevant in the administration of the Immigration Act?" Horan asked Key, ensuring his query sounded relevant to the original question and so could not be ruled out of order.

Horan's question had nothing to do with the Immigration Act and everything to do with the apparent absence of natural justice and due process with regard to his expulsion from NZ First.

The Prime Minister obliged by replying that natural justice was important - as was consistency. Key then had a further go at Peters by contrasting the challenging task of handling 170,000 visa applications from China each year and managing a caucus with just eight members.

Peters responded by pointing out that Key's handling of Act MP John Banks had been flawed. But it was too little too late. Horan's ambush had secured him a minor victory over his old boss.