Andrew Bayly: The countdown to political downfall

Tuesday, 25 February 2025

Andrew Bayly’s countdown to political downfall took just under a week - from an “inappropriate” arm touch on a Tuesday to an emotional four-minute media conference the next Monday.

The almost three-day gap between the National MP’s resignation on Friday from his ACC and Commerce and Consumer Affairs portfolios, to when the public was informed midday on Monday has raised eyebrows - both he and the Prime Minister having ample opportunity to tell the country one of their ministers was no longer a minister.

Both Bayly and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon would not disclose exactly what the National MP did in that arm touch that warranted leaving his ministerial post. Bayly will continue as an electorate MP.

Bayly said that on Tuesday, February 18, he and a staff member “had an animated discussion and the point is I put my hand on their upper arm”.

He confirmed a complaint was made, and that he had “held” their arm, but would not disclose for how long. The discussion was in his office at Parliament.

On Wednesday evening, February 19, the prime minister’s office and ministerial services were informed.

Luxon found out on the Thursday.

“On Friday evening, very, very late, Andrew called me and resigned,” Luxon said.

At 11.46am on Monday, Bayly’s resignation statement landed in the inboxes of journalists.

During his four-minute press conference, Bayly was asked why he had not informed the public earlier. He said, 'to be honest, I would have difficulty doing this interview over the last couple of days. I've had to talk to my family, and that's why I made the decision, and that's why we're announcing it today“.

Luxon said he wanted Bayly to have “Saturday, Sunday, just to inform his family and also other impacted staff”.

When an MP loses their role as a minister, their staff generally lose their jobs - known as being “evented”.

“I think that's been pretty quick to move as fast as we have within the week. It’s pretty impressive,” Luxon said.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins was not impressed, saying, “the public should expect that on issues like this, the prime minister will be up front and open with if them”.

“If he had received a minister's resignation on Friday, the fact that he appeared before the media over the weekend, didn't bother to mention it until Monday, that's totally unacceptable.”

MP Scott Simpson has taken over Bayly’s roles.

Bayly came under heavy scrutiny in October, for an interaction with a winery worker which Luxon at the time said Bayly got “horribly wrong” and which was said to have caused “hurt and insult” to a member of the public.

Bayly had apologised then, too, after the worker accused him of insulting behaviour during the business visit.

The worker alleged Bayly told him to: “Take a bottle of wine and go home, go on, go home … take some wine and f… off.” Allegedly Bayly made the L sign on his forehead.

Bayly then admitted making the L sign, but denied swearing at the worker.