5 Dec 2018

National MPs walk out of debating chamber

4:32 pm on 5 December 2018

A large number of National Party MPs have walked out of Parliament this afternoon during question time.

The house empties out as National MPs staged a walk-out.

The house empties out as National MPs staged a walk-out. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Simon Bridges and Gerry Brownlee were kicked out of the debating chamber, which sparked the walkout.

The National Party was thrown out for questioning the conduct of the Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard.

Mr Bridges had been questioning the prime minister about the case of Karel Sroubek and his estranged wife, when he was ordered to leave by the Speaker Trevor Mallard.

Mr Bridges said he was kicked out for accusing the speaker of protecting the prime minister.