New Zealand MP, Gaurav Sharma doubles down on bullying claims, accused Jacinda Ardern of lying

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been called a liar by a suspected member of her party amid bullying claims.

A suspended Kiwi MP has shared major claims of bullying within the New Zealand Labour Party, saying that he believes at least six other members have been bullied by the same offender.

Labour MP for Hamilton West, Gaurav Sharma, 38, accused Labour’s former chief whip and MP for Wairarapa, Kieran McAnulty of bullying. Additionally, he said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ignored the bullying claims.

The suspended MP said bullying was rampant within New Zealand’s Labour Party. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/ Getty Images.

Speaking to Radio NZ on Friday morning, he lashed the Prime Minister’s integrity, saying that: “This is about the credibility of a nation’s prime minister, who every step of the way has been lying”.

He also accused Ms Ardern of excluding him from a caucus meeting.

“Even this week, lying and saying there is no predetermination while she called the meeting, in which everybody was invited, except me,” he said.

In another interview with Newstalk ZB, Dr Sharma accused Ms Ardern of covering up the bullying claims.

“How outrageous is it that the Prime Minister of the country at that time didn’t investigate it,” he said.

“She wasn’t concerned about the wellbeing of her MPs then, and she’s definitely not worried about the wellbeing of MPs now.”

As it stands, both Mr McAnulty and the current senior whip Duncann Webb have rejected the allegations.

When asked by a reporter, Mr McAnulty said they were “pretty widely rejected,” 1News reports.

“I think it’s become pretty clear over the last few days that that is the case. It is pretty upsetting to be accused of these things, but it’s not stacking up,” he said.

“I’ve got the backing of the Prime Minister and the caucus; they recognise that I take claims about the treatment of staff pretty seriously.”

The former doctor has been suspended over his allegations. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/ Getty Images.

A former general practitioner, Dr Sharma was elected in 2020, however he was suspended from caucus on Tuesday after “repeated breaches of trust”.

“Caucus has determined suspension is the most appropriate response to the repeated breaches of trust from Gaurav over recent days,” said Ms Ardern on Tuesday.

“This means Gaurav will continue as the MP for Hamilton West and be expected to be present Parliament, however he will no longer participate in any caucus events or activities unless caucus’ permission is granted.”

This comes after Dr Sharma penned an opinion piece for the New Zealand Herald which spoke about the “lack of accountability” when it comes to bullying in politics. He said that constituents “would be appalled” by what their “elected representatives have to bear in terms of harassment from inside the Parliament”.

“The above member-to-member and party-to-member bullying rampant in Parliament is – I believe – promoted and facilitated by this very organisation by working behind the scenes with the whips office, the offices of the leaders of various parties, along with the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and the Prime Minister’s Office,” he wrote.