Truth, lies, and democracy1 NEWS National left scrambling for new candidate after Todd Barclay announces departure from politics. STACEY KIRK/FAIRFAX NZ Todd Barclay, National's youngest MP, allegedly secretly taped one of the party's long serving electoral agents who apparently criticised him. A healthy, open democracy is precious because it fosters peace, political stability and the foundations for effective business and economic development. But there are three wider lessons we need to learn from this case for the sake of a healthy democracy. Nicky Hager's Dirty Politics book published in 2014 shone a light on other questionable public relations practices under former Prime Minister John Key.

Source: Stuff June 22, 2017 00:57 UTC