Vanterpool “very annoyed” over Skelton Cline’s ‘new party’ rumours

Mark Vanterpool

Former legislator Mark Vanterpool has publicly rejected claims that Junior Minister for Financial Services, Lorna Smith, is planning to join a new political party with him, describing the suggestion as false and irresponsible.

Speaking in response to commentary aired on the Honestly Speaking radio programme, Vanterpool said there had been no discussion and no truth to claims that Smith was aligning herself with any new political movement connected to him. He stressed that the matter needed to be made clear to the public.

“It is not true that Honourable Lorna Smith is joining any party with me and anything like that,” Vanterpool stated, adding that the claim was “not a discussion” and “not something that is happening”.

Vanterpool took issue with comments made by radio commentator Claude Skelton Cline, urging greater care and accuracy in public commentary. He said commentators had the right to speak but also have the responsibility to verify information before presenting it to the public.

“I want to encourage him to, when he’s doing his commentary, which he has a right to do, to verify his statements and make sure that the public understands that what he’s saying is true,” Vanterpool said, adding that there was “no truth to it”.

Vanterpool said he was particularly concerned about the timing of the speculation, noting that elections were still some distance away. He said the claims served no useful purpose and risked misleading the public. “[I am] very annoyed, because you know it’s irresponsible. It is not true, and it’s irresponsible,” he said, reiterating his call for more responsible commentary.

He also reaffirmed his support for the current government, noting that his approach after elections has consistently been to back the elected administration and encourage it to govern responsibly. “Honourable Lorna Smith continues to do her work. I will continue to support the government as best I can,” he stated.

What Skelton Cline said

During the Honestly Speaking show last Tuesday, Skelton Cline suggested that Vanterpool was forming a new political party and speculated that Smith might be involved. He linked his comments to the high cost of launching a political organisation, saying that starting a party required significant financial resources.

“I understand the former member of the Fourth District, that he is starting a party, Honourable Vanterpool,” Skelton Cline said, “And I suspect if he’s starting a party, that his sister will be with him.”

The comments come against the backdrop of Smith’s recent political history. Smith, a former Deputy Premier, was dismissed from the Cabinet late last year amid allegations of disloyalty and questions about her position during a vote of confidence in the HOA. “She did not give me the confidence that she would remain with my administration for the duration of this term,” Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley explained at the time.

Smith was returned to the government earlier this year as a junior minister, defending the move as necessary to address the country’s urgent needs and to enable her to contribute meaningfully. “I believe that at this time, it should be all hands on deck,” Smith said.