The silence begins

What an eye-opener this last week has been in terms of how conservative the mainstream media have become in this country. If Hager’s book had been a microscopic evaluation of Labour, then this book would have been front page reading and the attack on Labour would not end – Hager comes out with an incredibly damning insight into National – and what do we have – silence. Can anyone believe the line from Brash now? He didn’t read e-mails informing him of prior knowledge to the Exclusive Brethren campaigns while all the time preparing a defense that National knew nothing, and now Brash claims he was joking when he e-mailed ideas that perhaps the Party should just lie about policy.

The only thing more numbing than Brash’s attempt to lie his way out of this, is the silence from the mainstream media.

Brash cites 'factual errors' in rejection of book claims
Outgoing National leader Don Brash is mounting a firm rejection of accusations contained in The Hollow Men and has repeated that he had no knowledge of a "confidential" email sent by the Exclusive Brethren.

Dr Brash, who is at the centre of several damaging chapters in Nicky Hager's new book, said the author has made "substantial factual errors".

"I think there would have been a vastly better book, even if somewhat less exciting, if the author had checked some of the things he claims are facts with the people involved," Dr Brash said yesterday.

He was particularly quick to rebut Hager's claim that he and his probable successor John Key both knew about the Exclusive Brethren's plan to conduct a campaign in their favour well before last year's election.

Hager's book contains a letter emailed to Dr Brash and Mr Key by members of the Exclusive Brethren in late May last year, outlining their plans.

The date is earlier than Dr Brash has previously admitted talking to the religious sect about their pamphlets.

Mr Key has said he did not open the email and Dr Brash said yesterday that he did not personally see the email.