The instability of the Alliance parties is no reason to call an early election, National Leader Bill English said today.

"Whatever happens with the Alliance its members will be voting with Labour in Parliament anyway. Helen Clark has consistently taken this view since Jim Anderton first moved away from the Alliance and nothing should change it.

"Embarrassment is no cause for an early election.

"Helen Clark chose Jim Anderton as Deputy Prime Minister and she drove through the Electoral Integrity Act. She put Laila Harre in her Cabinet so all the problems she has now are of her own making.

"Even if Laila Harre did write to the Speaker to advise him of the split within the Alliance and subsequent party hopping, it is not clear whether the speaker would recognise her," Mr English said.

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