21 April 2002

Laila Harre's election as leader of the Alliance in place of Jim Anderton raises important questions about the integrity of the Government, National Leader Bill English said today.

"The Alliance has expelled Jim Anderton and his followers from the party but they will turn up to Parliament on Tuesday acting as if they represent the Alliance.

"Jim Anderton will be sitting next to Helen Clark as her personally appointed Deputy Prime Minister with her full support. Laila Harre will also turn up to Parliament as leader of the Alliance.

"Helen Clark and Jim Anderton campaigned against party hopping and for more integrity in Government and more credibility than everybody else.

"The events of the weekend confirm they are willing to follow through on an arrangement which is unbelievable, given their previous public position.

"If Helen Clark had enough integrity to stick to what she campaigned on she would not tolerate this behaviour. However it has become clear in the past week that she has trouble understanding hypocrisy when she sees it," Mr English said.

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