The story about Chris Bishop and the funding switcheroo is mostly a beat up, I think, and nobody will care. He's the Housing Minister, the Transport Minister, and the MP for Hutt South.

Basically, some Kainga Ora housing project cash was transferred to transport to pay for a bridge. He signed it off - so far, who cares, right?

But here's the bit people will care about - it's a cycle bridge. A cycle/walking bridge. And the housing money they used to pay for the cycle bridge was meant to pay for stormwater upgrades. You know, pipes. And it took $27 million.

Can you see the problem?

Bishop's done a Tory Whanau. Spent money meant for pipes on nice-to-haves like cycle bridges, and that's the real issue - perception.

Because how can you go out and criticise local councils, Labour and anyone on the left for putting nice-to-haves ahead of 'the basics' when you yourself are guilty of the same crime?

The bridge money was canned because the Government stopped funding for non-car projects. And if you think about it, he's actually done a Winston, too. A pork-barrel, because this is in his own electorate.

This bridge might get him re-elected MP for Hutt South. What an honour.

For any politician to slanderously do a Tory and a Winston, all in one foul political swoop, displays impressive, almost acrobatic, political skill. For that, Bishop ought to be applauded, not admonished.

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