The Green Party look set to propel Labour into office after a poll showed party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons opening up an eight point lead over National’s Murray McLean.

The Dominion UMR-Insight Poll of 400 Coromandel voters showed Fitzsimons on 43 per cent, up a massive nine points from the previous month and Murray McLean down two points to 35 per cent.

The Greens need to win the Coromandel seat to get MPs into Parliament. On current polling a win in the Coromandel could deliver between three and six Green MPs.

The surge in the Coromandel follows Helen Clark’s tacit endorsement of Fitzsimons in the seat, however Labour’s candidate Margaret Hawkeswood is still on 11 per cent.

Fitzsimons has ruled out supporting a right-wing government and Green MPs may yet prove crucial to giving the left the majority to form a new government.

Speaking on Crossfire last night Clark said she did not oppose a Cabinet post for the Greens as part of a coalition deal but such negotiations needed to be conducted after the election.

Any Cabinet post for the Greens would likely be in the environment portfolio.

ends

Deaf Ears: Speaker On Support For Mojo Mathers

Scoop Audio: In a press conference this afternoon Speaker Lockwood Smith defended his handling of requests for support for profoundly deaf MP Mojo Mathers' participation in Parliament, and said he was "deeply concerned" by the way the issue had been portrayed.

Earlier today the Greens said they had been told they would have to fund support Mathers requires out of their own budget. More>>