Richard Worth National Justice Spokesman

7 October 2003

Government has no mandate to scrap Privy Council

The turnaround by United Future with its eleventh-hour decision to oppose the Supreme Court Bill must make the Government reconsider its plan to ram the legislation through, says National's Justice spokesman Richard Worth.

"United Future is now saying there's insufficient mandate to pass this legislation, which National, ACT and New Zealand First have opposed all along.

"But even United Future jumping out the window at the last minute can't stop Margaret Wilson recklessly driving this hijacked constitutional bus," says Mr Worth.

"The Government is fully prepared to fly in the face of public opinion and reason, rather than respond to logical argument.

"The simple fact is 75 per cent of those who appeared before the Select Committee opposed the Supreme Court Bill.

"In forging ahead, the Government is setting a dangerous precedent for major constitutional change without sufficient mandate from all New Zealanders," says Mr Worth.

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