Labour complains over Key's radio hosting

Labour says Prime Minister John Key's hosting of a radio programme last week breached both the Broadcasting Act and the Electoral Act. Photo / Ben Fraser

Labour has lodged a complaint over Prime Minister John Key's hosting of a Radio Live programme last week.

Labour Party general secretary Chris Flatt today lodged complaints with the Broadcasting Standards Authority and the Electoral Commission following Mr Key's hour-long segment on the station last Friday.

"I believe that John Key hosting a programme on Radio Live so close to the election breached both the Broadcasting Act and the Electoral Act," Mr Flatt said.

In relation to the Broadcasting Act, the complaint argues that Mr Key's hour breached the prohibition on paid election programmes and breached the Election Programmes Code of Broadcasting Practice.

In relation to the Electoral Act, the complaint argued it breached the prohibition on paid election programmes, and was an unauthorised election advertisement.

During the show, Mr Key told listeners the hour was an "election free zone", and spent the hour interviewing a number of celebrities and covering non-political issues.

A spokeswoman for Mr Key said Radio Live had stipulated Mr Key's hour must be free of politics, having obtained advice from the Electoral Commission that political content could breach election rules in the regulated period.