John Key MP National Party Finance Spokesman

30 June 2005

Labour loses confidence in Michael Cullen

National Party Finance spokesman John Key says Michael Cullen's no-show on tonight's televised tax debate is further proof that Labour has lost confidence in the Finance Minister.

"National thinks the treatment of tax is a burning issue for New Zealanders and now the Finance Minister is going to ground to avoid the debate.

"He simply doesn't want to entertain the thought that taxpayers should be allowed to keep more of what they earn.

"It's the clearest indication yet that Labour has no plan to change its wasteful spending priorities."

According to the Parliamentary news sheet Molesworth and Featherston 'some Labour backbenchers and ministers are none-too-secretly blaming Michael Cullen for the fall in Labour's fortunes, off the back of the public relations cock-up that was the Budget'. "Labour has lost confidence in Dr Cullen, along with two thirds of the public in this week's NZ Herald poll who don't believe his claim that tax relief is unaffordable.

"I don't think we can afford not to lower taxes," says Mr Key.

ENDS

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