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MP defends knitting in Parliament, says it helps her concentrate Labour MP Deborah Russell has attracted attention after being spotted knitting in the background during Parliament’s Question Time on Wednesday. Russell was seated in the debating chamber while her Labour colleague Ginny Andersen questioned Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Footage of Russell knitting with needles and a ball of yarn prompted criticism, as reported by Stuff. One reader told Stuff: “I’m outraged at the footage of a Labour MP knitting in Question Time. These people!!! Knitting!!!!” However, knitting is permitted in Parliament’s debating chamber. Speaker Gerry Brownlee confirmed to Stuff that it was allowed, while joking that “it may lead to too much uneven tension in the knit”. The rules date back to a 2003 ruling by then-Speaker Jonathan Hunt, which stated: “Knitting is permitted in the Chamber except by a Minister in charge of a bill in committee”. Russell defended her decision, saying knitting helps her remain calm and concentrate during parliamentary proceedings. “I find it calming and it makes it easier to concentrate,” Russell told Stuff. “I’ve taken knitting into Question Time three or four times. If it’s a way for people to manage their concentration and feel calm, then what’s wrong with it?” She said MPs are required to attend Question Time, which she described as a form of political theatre, and said she preferred knitting to other activities some MPs engage in. “Question Time is political theatre, and we are all required to be there. Some people are answering emails or playing games on their phones. But I choose to knit,” Russell said, Stuff has quoted. Russell is not the first New Zealand politician to knit or crochet in Parliament. Former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, her successor Marama Davidson, National MP Vanessa Weenink and ACT MP Nicole McKee have also been seen knitting or crocheting in the chamber, as reported by Stuff. Russell said she did not knit in the debating chamber when Labour was in government, but views it differently while in Opposition. “I never took it into the debating chamber while we were in government,” Russell said. “But in Opposition, it’s a way of saying you don’t like what’s going along in the chamber,” as quoted by Stuff. The MP is currently knitting a vest, which she said is the first item she has made for herself in six years. The yarn is made from 70% New Zealand wool and 30% South American wool, as reported by Stuff. Despite her enthusiasm for the hobby, Russell admitted she is not particularly skilled at it. “The funny thing is, I’m actually not that much of a good knitter,” she said, laughing, as quoted by Stuff. Labour MP Deborah Russell has attracted attention after being spotted knitting in the background during Parliament’s Question Time on Wednesday. Russell was seated in the debating chamber while her Labour colleague Ginny Andersen questioned Finance Minister Nicola Willis. Footage of Russell knitting with needles and a ball of yarn prompted criticism, as reported by Stuff. One reader told Stuff: “I’m outraged at the footage of a Labour MP knitting in Question Time. These people!!! Knitting!!!!” However, knitting is permitted in Parliament’s debating chamber. Speaker Gerry Brownlee confirmed to Stuff that it was allowed, while joking that “it may lead to too much uneven tension in the knit”. The rules date back to a 2003 ruling by then-Speaker Jonathan Hunt, which stated: “Knitting is permitted in the Chamber except by a Minister in charge of a bill in committee”. Russell defended her decision, saying knitting helps her remain calm and concentrate during parliamentary proceedings. “I find it calming and it makes it easier to concentrate,” Russell told Stuff. “I’ve taken knitting into Question Time three or four times. If it’s a way for people to manage their concentration and feel calm, then what’s wrong with it?” She said MPs are required to attend Question Time, which she described as a form of political theatre, and said she preferred knitting to other activities some MPs engage in. “Question Time is political theatre, and we are all required to be there. Some people are answering emails or playing games on their phones. But I choose to knit,” Russell said, Stuff has quoted. Russell is not the first New Zealand politician to knit or crochet in Parliament. Former Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, her successor Marama Davidson, National MP Vanessa Weenink and ACT MP Nicole McKee have also been seen knitting or crocheting in the chamber, as reported by Stuff. Russell said she did not knit in the debating chamber when Labour was in government, but views it differently while in Opposition. “I never took it into the debating chamber while we were in government,” Russell said. “But in Opposition, it’s a way of saying you don’t like what’s going along in the chamber,” as quoted by Stuff. The MP is currently knitting a vest, which she said is the first item she has made for herself in six years. The yarn is made from 70% New Zealand wool and 30% South American wool, as reported by Stuff. Despite her enthusiasm for the hobby, Russell admitted she is not particularly skilled at it. “The funny thing is, I’m actually not that much of a good knitter,” she said, laughing, as quoted by Stuff.