August 2, 2008

In an interesting admission, Bob Clarkson states: “150 Exclusive Brethren helped him” in his 2005 election bid. This is particularly interesting because the EB went to great lengths at the time to state that the ‘Secret Seven’ businessmen of that era were acting solely on their own initiative.

At the time in 2005, this site and others spoke of an international campaign that was coordinated from Sydney, Australia by the leader of the Exclusive Brethren, Bruce Hales. Millions of dollars were raised internationally by the Exclusive Brethren in ’special collections’. This money was then used to fund the various smear advertising and other Exclusive Brethren political activities in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USA and the UK.

Bob Clarkson is helping the Truth be told - it was not just seven New Zealand businessmen! It was the entire Exclusive Brethren sub-culture - obeying orders as usual from their leader.

The Exclusive Brethren lied about their involvement - quite outrageously. And now, with new allegations of criminal activity hitting New Zealand and Australian headlines, it would be a mistake to assume they are telling the truth.

Thank you Bob for coming clean.

Clarkson reanimates Exclusive Brethren ghosts

National Business Review, NZ

August 2nd, 2008

Retiring National MP Bob “the builder” Clarkson has gone out the way he came in — delivering a dose of his trade-mark straight talking to the party’s annual conference.

Mr Clarkson today admitted he had received the help of 150 Exclusive Brethren members in his epic battle to wrest the Tauranga seat from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters at the 2005 election.

Association with the brethren, who waged an initially covert $1.3 million campaign against Labour, damaged National in the final weeks of the election campaign and the party has done everything in its power to distance itself from the sect ever since.

But that didn’t stop Mr Clarkson, who has won a reputation for straight talking in his time in Parliament, to bring their skeleton out of the closet.

In thanking National’s five retiring MPs today president Judy Kirk said the party would always be proud of Mr Clarkson for defeating Mr Peters.

In reply Mr Clarkson said he had received help from the brethren in getting there.

“I’d be a little bit amiss if I didn’t say some of the help in Tauranga — I’ll upset Judy in saying it — we got help from 150 brethrens.”

The announcement was greeted by slightly stunned and nervous laughter.

Many National MPs have admitted they were approached by the brethren with offers of help in their electorate campaigns. Some have said they refused their help, while others have said it was unwittingly accepted.

National has said it will not accept help from the church at this year’s election.

National’s other retiring MPs are Rakaia MP Brian Connell and list MPs Clem Simich, Mark Blumsky and Katherine Rich.

National Business Review - Clarkson reanimates Exclusive Brethren ghosts