The National Party turned an important corner this week, with two solid victories to Leader Bill English, according to National MP Murray McCully.

"Tuesdays contest between the leaders clearly went to Bill English. The Prime Minister left media commentators high and dry, having convinced them she was about to say something important. They thought she wanted to start a national debate on how New Zealand could improve its economic growth rates and start moving back up the OECD index. But all she really wanted was a photo opportunity.

"Round two also clearly goes to Bill English. He was quite happy to give the Prime Minister a debate about how we can improve our economic growth rate, starting with the Holmes Show invitation to both leaders to appear on Tuesday night. But Helen Clark wouldn't front.

"By Thursday Clark was resorting to transferring questions which specifically related to her own public comments to other Ministers to answer."

"Given the opportunity to debate the policies which will improve our OECD ranking the Prime Minister simply went off to find the next photo opportunity.

"The National leader way well be the underdog in this years election contest. But this week that seemed to suit him a lot more than it suited Helen Clark."

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