'Do you want me to stand as an electorate candidate in Wellington central or are you prepared to vote for me by giving the Alliance your party vote?'

That's the choice Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle is giving Wellington Central voters in a letter sent today.

'This is an issue about democratic choice and how to safeguard it,' Phillida Bunkle said.

She says the issue has been raised by the deal between National and Act, where National has stood aside in Wellington Central in favour of Act MP Richard Prebble.

'I am proud of my record in standing up for democracy on issues like genetically engineered food and casinos when other parties have not. I believe I've played an important role in speaking up for democratic choice.

'MMP is designed to offer voters the choice of the best person in the electorate separate from the party vote. In Wellington Central however, the two issues are not separate because of the dirty back-room deal between National and Act. Richard Prebble is trying to get away with it again.

'Some people do not want to reduce their choice to get rid of Mr Prebble and others do not want to have their choice to vote for me on the electorate vote taken away.

'I will not do a backroom deal. I believe decisions should be made in a democratic way. Voters should have their say.

'I am consulting Wellington Central in as open and direct way as possible about the choice of re-electing me through the electorate or using their party vote for the Alliance.'

Phillida Bunkle's letter has been paid for and delivered by the Alliance.

ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>