I suppose the ultimate question is, what do you want in a leader, or more specifically, the Prime Minister?

Chris Hipkins is immersed in a growing mess around social media and an angry ex-wife.

Hand on heart, if it hadn't been sent to me I would not have asked, because I genuinely don’t care.

I still subscribe to the broad idea that personal lives are off limits, unless you decide they're fair game.

Social media has changed all the rules. Did the post of me at the pub or the charity run give you clearance to troll through every detail?

Does a political figure asking for your vote entitle you to know everything about them and, if so, where is the line? And is the line not different for each and every one of us?

Equally, it has a chilling effect. For everything that may be/could be said about you that isn't true (or is said with malice with a bit of added spice that isn't strictly true but designed to damage) it must put people off public office, there but for the grace of God.

Who needs that grief? No one is squeaky clean.

If the Parliament is supposed to be representative, I suppose you could argue Hipkins and his ex represent a large slice of the New Zealand countryside; married, divorced, things got messy – that's life experience.

You could argue she's toxic. You could argue he's a prick. You could argue a lot of stuff, which is why it is probably best left, given it doesn’t cross the threshold of requiring the authorities.

In others’ words it's domestic, it's not illegal, it's not involving police, or authorities, or courts, or charges, or investigations. It's she said, he said.

I would love to know (and AI will tell us one day) how many have reacted to the allegations strongly because they hate Hipkins and want him taken down, versus how many reacted strongly because of the accusations in isolation, versus how many haven't reacted at all, versus how many have reacted against her for seeking revenge, versus how many have gone out of their way to track down the comments because they are nosey.

What a mix – public life, social media, gossip, innuendo, anger, broken hearts, revenge, toxicity, and sticky beak-ery.

Who would be an MP?

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Politicians from across the spectrum are steering clear of discussing claims made by Chris Hipkins' ex.

The Labour leaders' denied allegations made by his ex-wife in a now deleted private Facebook post.

None indicate unlawful conduct.

Labour's Ginny Anderson told Mike Hosking it's sad, and as a mother her first thoughts are with the children.

National's Mark Mitchell says he understands the public interest, but he's staying right out of it.

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British pop legend Robbie Williams offers his thoughts on the increasing scale of live performances and concerts as part of an interview with Mike Hosking. Catch the full-length chat Friday on the Mike Hosking Breakfast.

Robbie Williams is coming to entertain New Zealand this November.

He’s confirmed one show in Auckland and another in Christchurch for his BRITPOP world tour, and he’ll be the first international artist to perform at Christchurch’s new Te Kaha Stadium.

Musicians have been putting more and more effort into their performances and concerts of late – ramping up the visuals and touring much more frequently.

Williams reckons the reason why is that all artists “shat themselves” when the experimental experiential market “fell to shit” as a result of Covid.

“I reckon it did something to all of our psyches,” he told Mike Hosking.

“We realised on a conscious or subconscious level that this could all be taken away at any moment, and we shall never ever take this for granted again.

“I think everybody came out of the traps going, quick, do something! And I don’t think that we’ve caught up with the fact that were alright right now – we can maybe chill.”

“I don’t think I’ve worked as hard in the last four or five years as I’ve done since I was in ‘Take That’, since I was in the boyband.”

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