A jacked up complaint about Rodney Hide's trademark yellow jacket that left the ACT leader red faced is a classic case of "foot in mouth", Labour leader Helen Clark says.
Mr Hide yesterday proudly paraded an Electoral Commission query about whether his yellow jacket, which features an ACT logo and slogan, was election advertising as evidence of the lunacy of the Electoral Finance Act.
A defiant Mr Hide said he intended to ignore the letter.
But it has been revealed the complaint was a stitch up, with the complainant none other than Canterbury ACT supporter Andy Moore.
Mr Hide bought the $1300 jacket in July, partly with the intention of testing the Act. It carries the ACT party slogan "the guts to do what's right".
An embarrassed Mr Hide today said he did not know the complaint came from Mr Moore.
Miss Clark said it appeared ACT had complained, but tried to keep their name out of it so they could create a fuss around the Electoral Finance Act.
"That's really foot and mouth territory that they cook up an issue and make the Act look bad when there's no substance to it."
The controversial Act, which places tight restrictions on election advertisements and limits the right to campaign, was passed by Labour, New Zealand First and the Greens late last year.
The Electoral Commission yesterday said it would consider whether the jacket breaks the law when it next meets on November 14.
Under the Electoral Finance Act, "published election advertisements" must carry the authorisation of the party's financial agent.
National has said it will repeal the Act.
