Helen Clark is showing a startling lack of respect for the symbols of state, says National Party Leader Bill English.

"It is extraordinary that today we hear the photographs of the Head of State the Queen, are being removed at New Zealand foreign offices, and being replaced by a picture of Helen Clark.

"There cannot be anywhere else in the western world where such a total lack of respect is shown to a Head of State and what makes it even worse is that this is the Queen's Jubilee year.

"The Prime Minister embarrassed herself and her country with her showing of bad manners at the recent State dinner at Parliament but she now has gone one step further and shown an appalling lack of respect in having the Queen's picture taken down to be replaced by one of her.

"Instead of worrying about getting the latest airbrushed shot of herself in some foreign land the Prime Minister should start concentrating on what is happening in New Zealand where health is just about on life support and education is in such a mess more than 50,000 pupils facing this years NCEA are at risk.

"My call to Helen Clark is to get real, get over yourself, stop looking in the mirror and start concentrating on the bread and butter issues that matter to every day New Zealanders, "says Bill English.

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