12 February 2001

Shirtcliffe should quit while ahead

Former MMP campaigner and Green Party co-leader Rod Donald today said Peter Shirtcliffe and his big business mates, who have just launched a campaign against MMP, should quit while they are ahead.

"I would have thought that Peter Shirtcliffe would have learnt his lesson in 1993 when he spent $2 million trying to stop the introduction of MMP and was defeated by the will of the people," he said.

"The same reason Shirtcliffe lost then is the same reason he will lose now - voters only had to look at those who were opposing fairer representation to make up their minds on why we needed MMP.

"It is ironic that the advocates of the economic free market are the very ones who are trying to deny voters a real political choice. MMP has spelt the end of the two party closed shop and has ensured that voters are fairly represented," said Mr Donald.

"In any case the so-called Citizens Majority Trust is three years too late. They may have got somewhere when National and New Zealand First were ruining MMP but since the change of Government support for MMP has increased significantly," said Mr Donald.

Rod Donald MP: 025 507 183 Jonathan Hill (press secretary): 04 470 6719, 021 440 090

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