Former Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters is calling on parliament to move a motion of no confidence against Trevor Mallard.

It follows today’s backdown by the speaker of the house, after issuing Mr Peters a trespass notice for Parliament grounds.

Five trespass orders were withdrawn this morning, in relation to the occupation of Parliament’s grounds during February and March this year.

To date, 151 trespass notices have been issued.

Of this number, 144 were for people arrested by Police during the occupation.

An additional seven notices were issued to persons of interest. Of these, five trespass notices have since been withdrawn as the persons are now thought unlikely to seriously offend or incite others to commit serious offences. The other two notices will remain in force.

Winston Peters said “the debacle we have witnessed over the past few days created by Trevor Mallard’s dictatorial and bullyboy behaviour, is just another in a long list of examples of his unsuitability to remain in his role as Speaker.”

“Today in his press release he announced the withdrawal of the trespass orders against five former Members of Parliament where he stated the following:

“…five trespass notices have since been withdrawn as the persons are now thought unlikely to seriously offend or incite others to commit serious offences…The behaviour of some individuals was clearly more egregious than others, and on that basis it has been relatively easy to identify those persons issued with trespass notices who no longer are regarded as being a risk to the safety and security of others at Parliament.”

Mr Peters said “these are two clear implications that former Members of Parliament were originally considered likely to ‘seriously offend or incite others to’ and to be a ‘risk to the safety and security of Parliament.’

“It is an outrageous insult that Mallard, in the role of Speaker of the House, would hold this view of myself and my former parliamentary colleagues.”

“This is evidence of how out of control and power-drunk he has now become.”

“The speaker must now be subject to a motion of no confidence immediately.”

““Surely a current Member of Parliament can stand up and do their duty and move a motion of no confidence.”

Political commentator Bryce Edwards said “in arbitrarily trespassing selected political figures, Trevor Malland brings both himself and the institution of Parliament into yet more disrepute.

“In particular, the decision to threaten New Zealand First leader Winston Peters with arrest if he visits Parliament makes a further mockery of how authorities have dealt with dissent. A sense of pettiness now pervades Mallard and those that defend him.”