Rt. Hon Winston Peters
Leader NZ First

April 24th 2011

PRESS RELEASE
Election Royal Visit “Cynical And Inappropriate”

Rt. Hon Winston Peters has described the Prime Minister's idea of inviting the Queen to visit in the lead up to the general election as “highly inappropriate” and a cynical breach of constitutional conventions.

The Sunday Star Times reported today Queen Elizabeth is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth in October, a week after the Rugby World Cup, and that John Key hopes to persuade her to travel to New Zealand for the tournament.

Mr Peters said the very idea was a tasteless attempt to embroil our Head of State in domestic politics. It was devoid of any historic or legal understanding of New Zealand’s constitutional position.

“The Queen and her family are very welcome in New Zealand – except during an election campaign because such a visit would imply Royal support for the political party in government at the time.

“It is clear the National Party does not want to campaign on issues such as asset sales, low wages, the cost of living and privatising the foreshore and seabed. John Key's big tax payer funded public relations team just wants to continue with the tactics of political platitudes and photo opportunities.

“This latest suggestion is even sillier than the Prime Minister’s view that Prince William, second in line to the throne, would visit as a ‘private citizen’ at the Cup.

“I am confident of the Royal family’s awareness of its responsibilities and saddened by the image of New Zealand that the Prime Minister has so tactlessly painted of us.

“It is also a constitutional and diplomatic blunder by the invitation appearing in the media before the Queen has even heard of it.

“How undignified must we seem to other Commonwealth nations?

“We urge all other political parties to oppose the suggestion. Her Majesty's loyal subjects in New Zealand First would prefer that she visit at a later date when all the votes have been counted.

“That way there would be no breach of the constitutional convention,” said Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media