A French far-right politician is on trial, accused of misappropriating EU funds. 

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally Party, along with the party itself and 24 others, are accused of using money destined for work at the European Parliament to pay staff working for their party. 

Le Pen denies the charges, and is confident she would be able to prove she did nothing wrong.  

France Correspondent Catherine Field told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they’re accused of diverting around $5.5 million New Zealand. 

She said they’ve paid back about a quarter of that sum, but the party did say it doesn’t mean they’re guilty. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

A French far-right politician is on trial, accused of misappropriating EU funds.&nbsp;
Marine Le Pen, the leader of the National Rally Party, along with the party itself and 24 others, are accused of using money destined for work at the European Parliament to pay staff working for their party.&nbsp;
Le Pen denies the charges, and is confident she would be able to prove she did nothing wrong. &nbsp;
France Correspondent Catherine Field told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they’re accused of diverting around $5.5 million New Zealand.&nbsp;
She said they’ve paid back about a quarter of that sum, but the party did say it doesn’t mean they’re guilty.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.

Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.

The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Catherine Field: France Correspondent on the trial of Marine Le Pen and the National Rally Party

The Conservatives annual conference in Birmingham – essentially one big job interview. By Wednesday afternoon the Conservatives should be a lot closer to knowing who their next leader will be.

The selected candidates are Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat with Rishi Sunak as the leader. 

Tens of thousands of council homes sit empty as the waitlist grows.

Rod Little told Heather du Plessis-Allan that today it was Tugendhat who seems to be one of the outsiders.

Liddle states the general thinking is that this will come down to a final between Badenoch from the right and Jenrick from the centre left.

Liddle believes that it's looking more like the conservative MPs will try to get rid of Badenoch before it gets to the final.

LISTEN ABOVE

<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">The Conservatives annual conference in Birmingham – essentially one big job interview. By Wednesday afternoon the Conservatives should be a lot closer to knowing who their next leader will be.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">The selected candidates are Robert Jenrick, James Cleverly, Kemi Badenoch and Tom Tugendhat with Rishi Sunak as the leader. 
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Tens of thousands of council homes sit empty as the waitlist grows.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Rod Little told Heather du Plessis-Allan that today it was Tugendhat who seems to be one of the outsiders.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Liddle states the general thinking is that this will come down to a final between Badenoch from the right and Jenrick from the centre left.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Liddle believes that it's looking more like the conservative MPs will try to get rid of Badenoch before it gets to the final.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">LISTEN ABOVE

Rod Liddle: UK Correspondent shares his thoughts behind the Tory Leadership race

We've got a fascination with prime ministers and their money, it turns out.  

Last night 1News did the calculation that Christopher Luxon stands to make $480,000 off the sale of his apartment in Wellington —he's moving out because he's going over to Premier House— and also a rental property that he's selling in South Auckland.  

Now the implication of the story was that Christopher Luxon's making too much money off these properties, and he should be taxed.  

Over the weekend, a newspaper in Wellington also reported that Jacinda Ardern is earning $316,000 per appearance every time she speaks on the international speaking circuit, and the implication there was —certainly in commentary afterwards— that it's unethical for her to be doing that. It's damaging her reputation by showing that she really does love money over doing good after all. And if prime ministers keep on doing stuff like this, how do we know that they're actually making the right decisions when they are in power and not thinking about what kind of money they're gonna earn afterwards?  

Now, look, I don't mind the fascination with prime ministers and former prime ministers' earnings. I think it's completely human nature to be into it. We're fascinated by what our colleagues earn, right? So why wouldn't we be fascinated by what Luxon and Ardern earn? However, that is where I think it should stop – at fascination.  

There's nothing wrong with Jacinda Ardern earning that much money off the speaking circuit. Frankly, if we're honest about it, talking was about the only thing she was actually good at, and she'd be a fool not to take that kind of money if it's on offer.  

Same goes for Luxon. He was a well-paid businessman before politics. You would expect him to have plenty of money, you would expect him to put some of that money into property. And unless things have gone very bad for him in his calculations, you would expect him to make money off a property, especially one that he has apparently renovated. Nothing wrong here.  

To suggest that Luxon's capital gain on his property is evidence that we need a capital gains tax and to suggest that Jacinda's speaking circuit means that we need to put some sort of restraint of trade on future prime ministers is just taking it a bit far, isn't it?  

It's fine to be fascinated, just leave it at that. 

We've got a fascination with prime ministers and their money, it turns out. &nbsp;
Last night 1News did the calculation that Christopher Luxon stands to make $480,000 off the sale of his apartment in Wellington —he's moving out because he's going over to Premier House— and also a rental property that he's selling in South Auckland. &nbsp;
Now the implication of the story was that Christopher Luxon's making too much money off these properties, and he should be taxed. &nbsp;
Over the weekend, a newspaper in Wellington also reported that Jacinda Ardern is earning $316,000 per appearance every time she speaks on the international speaking circuit, and the implication there was —certainly in commentary afterwards— that it's unethical for her to be doing that. It's damaging her reputation by showing that she really does love money over doing good after all. And if prime ministers keep on doing stuff like this, how do we know that they're actually making the right decisions when they are in power and not thinking about what kind of money they're gonna earn afterwards? &nbsp;
Now, look, I don't mind the fascination with prime ministers and former prime ministers' earnings. I think it's completely human nature to be into it. We're fascinated by what our colleagues earn, right? So why wouldn't we be fascinated by what Luxon and Ardern earn? However, that is where I think it should stop – at fascination. &nbsp;
There's nothing wrong with Jacinda Ardern earning that much money off the speaking circuit. Frankly, if we're honest about it, talking was about the only thing she was actually good at, and she'd be a fool not to take that kind of money if it's on offer. &nbsp;
Same goes for Luxon. He was a well-paid businessman before politics. You would expect him to have plenty of money, you would expect him to put some of that money into property. And unless things have gone very bad for him in his calculations, you would expect him to make money off a property, especially one that he has apparently renovated. Nothing wrong here. &nbsp;
To suggest that Luxon's capital gain on his property is evidence that we need a capital gains tax and to suggest that Jacinda's speaking circuit means that we need to put some sort of restraint of trade on future prime ministers is just taking it a bit far, isn't it? &nbsp;
It's fine to be fascinated, just leave it at that.&nbsp;

Heather du Plessis-Allan: We have a fascination with prime ministers and their money

For eleven years Mitch James has been releasing music and touring the world. 

He’s opened for Callum Scott, supported Ed Sheeran, and toured with Six60, not to mention his own tours. 

James has just released a new single and has a new EP coming out next month, but the release comes with a caveat. 

The Kiwi musician is stepping away from the trade, James telling Heather du Plessis-Allan that the industry has become an environment that was just too difficult to overcome.  

“I’ve got this music coming out now that I believe is my most complete, most mature, advanced work as a songwriter and an artist, and coupled with the fact that this industry had sort of turned against me in a lot of ways, I just thought, you know. I’m sick of this.” 

“I just wanna hang my hat on something that I can look back on in twenty years’ time and go like, this is my finest work, and something that I can be very proud of.” 

It’s a bittersweet feeling, he said. 

For eleven years Mitch James has been releasing music and touring the world.

He’s opened for Callum Scott, supported Ed Sheeran, and toured with Six60, not to mention his own tours.

James has just released a new single and has a new EP coming out next month, but the release comes with a caveat.

The Kiwi musician is stepping away from the trade, James telling Heather du Plessis-Allan that the industry has become an environment that was just too difficult to overcome. 

“I’ve got this music coming out now that I believe is my most complete, most mature, advanced work as a songwriter and an artist, and coupled with the fact that this industry had sort of turned against me in a lot of ways, I just thought, you know. I’m sick of this.”

“I just wanna hang my hat on something that I can look back on in twenty years’ time and go like, this is my finest work, and something that I can be very proud of.”

It’s a bittersweet feeling, he said.

LISTEN ABOVE

For eleven years Mitch James has been releasing music and touring the world.&nbsp;
He’s opened for Callum Scott, supported Ed Sheeran, and toured with Six60, not to mention his own tours.&nbsp;
James has just released a new single and has a new EP coming out next month, but the release comes with a caveat.&nbsp;
The Kiwi musician is stepping away from the trade, James telling Heather du Plessis-Allan that the industry has become an environment that was just too difficult to overcome. &nbsp;
“I’ve got this music coming out now that I believe is my most complete, most mature, advanced work as a songwriter and an artist, and coupled with the fact that this industry had sort of turned against me in a lot of ways, I just thought, you know. I’m sick of this.”&nbsp;
“I just wanna hang my hat on something that I can look back on in twenty years’ time and go like, this is my finest work, and something that I can be very proud of.”&nbsp;
It’s a bittersweet feeling, he said.&nbsp;
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">For eleven years Mitch James has been releasing music and touring the world.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">He’s opened for Callum Scott, supported Ed Sheeran, and toured with Six60, not to mention his own tours.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">James has just released a new single and has a new EP coming out next month, but the release comes with a caveat.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">The Kiwi musician is stepping away from the trade, James telling Heather du Plessis-Allan that the industry has become an environment that was just too difficult to overcome. 
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">“I’ve got this music coming out now that I believe is my most complete, most mature, advanced work as a songwriter and an artist, and coupled with the fact that this industry had sort of turned against me in a lot of ways, I just thought, you know. I’m sick of this.”
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">“I just wanna hang my hat on something that I can look back on in twenty years’ time and go like, this is my finest work, and something that I can be very proud of.”
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">It’s a bittersweet feeling, he said.
<p style="-webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; margin: 0px 0px 10.6667px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap; vertical-align: baseline; font-kerning: none; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">LISTEN ABOVE

Catherine Field: France Correspondent on the trial of Marine Le Pen and the National Rally Party

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