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Ross 'terribly alone', National's role in decline questioned

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 22 Oct 2018, 9:25AM
Rogue MP Jami-Lee Ross

Ross 'terribly alone', National's role in decline questioned

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 22 Oct 2018, 9:25AM

The fallout of an explosive week in politics remains unknown, with Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross hospitalised for mental health issues.

Yesterday the Herald reported Jami-Lee Ross had been sectioned to an Auckland mental health facility.

Ross was picked up by police on Sunday, and a source close to the former National MP told the Herald that he was "not in good shape" and "had been sectioned ... people who go willingly aren't sectioned".

Under the Mental Health Act, a person can be taken to a safe place against their will and given treatment if their safety is considered at risk.

"He feels terribly alone. He hasn't been home," the source said.

Newstalk ZB's political editor Barry Soper said Ross had obviously been "under a lot pressure" and did not believe the MP's party was instrumental in his hospitalisation.

Soper told Newstalk ZB it was "a bit rich" for the National Party to say it took the mental health concerns seriously in a week that had seen both sides engage in allegations and counterclaims.

"They are both victims in this."

Ross had revealed earlier this week he had suffered something akin to a nervous breakdown and had been under care, Soper said.

"[It was] certainly a bit rich for the National Party to now be saying 'look we take these mental health concern very seriously indeed'.

"Of course anyone takes mental health seriously, but to suggest that it was National that got him the help that he obviously so desperately needed I think is a bit rich."

Former Labour Party president Mike Williams told TVNZ that he believed things would go quiet from Ross for at least five days, as per Williams' understanding of the Mental Health Act.

Former National Party president Michelle Boag told TVNZ there were still questions to be answered and nobody was quite sure where the incredibly fast-moving story would go next.

Earlier this week, Ross was pinpointed by a PwC report as leaking National Party Leader Simon Bridges' travel expenses.

Ross disputed the findings and accused Bridges of corruption before unleashing a secretly recorded phone call in which the leader disparaged one of their own MPs - describing Maureen Pugh as "f***ing useless".

Ross proceeded to quit the National Party as he was ousted from caucus and began trading insults with party leaders.

The political scandal only grew when six women came forward accusing Ross of bullying and harassment before Ross publicly admitted on air to extra-martial affairs.

LISTEN ABOVE AS BARRY SOPER SPEAKS WITH TIM DOWER

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