July 22, 2020
Workplace Relations Minister quits after affair revealed
Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway has resigned as a Minister and will step down as an MP at the election after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was informed he had been in a relationship with a staff member in one of the departments he headed.
National Party leader Judith Collins told media yesterday she had had forwarded information about alleged inappropriate behaviour by a Labour Minister to the Prime Minister.
Ms Ardern says Mr Lees-Galloway admitted the relationship, which spanned a year.
He opened himself up to accusations of improperly using his office and had not modelled the behaviour she expected from a minister in charge of setting a standard and culture in work places.
Mr Lees-Galloway’s Workplace Relations and Safety portfolio has gone to Andrew Little, Carmel Sepuloni will become the Minister for ACC and Kris Faafoi will become Minister for Immigration.
Mr Lees-Galloway says he has acted completely inappropriately in his position and can not continue as a Minister.
He says he has apologised to his family for letting them down.
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