The heat will go on later this week, as the grizzlies turn their attention to a law its opponents say will end democracy as we know it.

The Electoral Finance Bill is all about digging up the playing field which Labour saw as not being level last time round.

Money flowed into the Tories' war chest through secret trusts. The Exclusive Brethren was a clandestine third party, and whilst it did not actually advocate a National Government it bagged the Greens, and without them the Labour lot would have been struggling.

Labour was forced to cough up more than 800 grand which it was found to have overspent so it is now getting its own back.

Usually when the law is changed on electoral matters all the parties are consulted. Not on this occasion though, the Tories were left out in the cold. Hardly surprising considering they would not have agreed with very much of what was being proposed.

Secret donations to political parties will now be limited, but third parties like the Brethren will be able to spend up to 120 grand - enough for four full page newspaper ads. In the original bill secret donations were not even covered off.

The bill will be back before the bear pit later this week and the grizzlies will try in vain to stop it from becoming law. It means next year will be regulated when it comes to election spending and campaigning.

At the extreme end opponents say that not only will placards be seen as an election ad but so will speeches and chants, which means using a megaphone could be dodgy.

Missing the heat this week will be state homie John Key, who is off to Antarctica. Feeling the heat will be Head Girl Helen, but not here - she is off to Africa!

Barry Soper

Political Editor