Mother of Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni in court on benefit fraud charges

Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni has issued a statement backing leader Andrew Little's decision to step her aside rom her social development portfolios while her mother faces charges of benefit fraud.

Ms Sepuloni issued the statement this morning after Mr Little was criticised for stepping her down because of the actions of her mother while failing to take any action against David Cunliffe for using his cellphone while driving.

The critics included former Green MP Sue Bradford, who said Ms Sepuloni could not be held accountable for crimes her mother was alleged to have committed.

"It is hard to see how conflict of interest applies when Carmel is neither a Minister nor even a member of a governing party. If all political party spokespeople and Ministers were stood down every time a family member, no matter how independent, was before the courts on a matter related to their portfolio(s), Parliament would be a strange and unrepresentative institution."

She said Ms Sepuloni's family background was all the more reason to keep her in the role.

"Unless the alleged crimes are those of the MP concerned, familiarity with real life should be an asset, not a source of shame and stand downs."

Ms Sepuloni's mother, Beverley Anne Sepuloni, is in court today on multiple charges of benefit fraud.

In her statement, Ms Sepuloni said the first she knew of it was when a reporter contacted her yesterday. She had agreed with Mr Little that there was a conflict of interest with her social development portfolio and she should temporarily steo aside. "It's the right thing to do."

She said she looked forward to continuing in the role after the matter was resolved - Mr Little has said she will be reinstated whatever the outcome of the court case.

Mr Little was also questioned about the decision on Twitter, including why he pulled Ms Sepuloni aside over allegations against her mother but had not taken any action against MP David Cunliffe for breaking the law by using his cellphone while driving. Mr Cunliffe was fined $80 yesterday morning for using his cellphone after another motorist called Police because he was driving "eratically."

Mr Little said in reply that it was because Mr Cunliffe's portfolios were unrelated to the cellphone blunder.

Labour also claims a series of questions about benefit fraud that Ms Sepuloni asked Social Development Minister Anne Tolley last week showed Ms Sepuloni had not known about the charges.