It's Labour/Green Versus National/ACT

Monday 17 Jun 2002 Richard Prebble Press Releases -- Governance & Constitution

ACT leader Richard Prebble says he agrees with Bill English that the Labour Party's campaign is fundamentally dishonest.

"Helen Clark should tell the public that Labour, if it wins, will enter a coalition with the Greens. Helen Clark's claim that she is seeking a majority mandate is dishonest," Mr Prebble said.

"No party has received 50 percent since the waterfront strike election in 1951. (The teachers' strike won't help Labour.) Labour in June 1987, six weeks before polling day, was on 61% to National's 35%. On election day, Labour's lead was just 4 % - 48% to 44%.

"No government in Germany has scored a 50% result since the 1950s. Even Labour's own poller has said Labour will not win 50%.

"Labour is running a dishonest campaign. If Labour is really fighting the Greens, why has Helen Clark endorsed Jeanette Fitzsimons in Coromandel? Why were the Greens told the date of the early election before Labour's own caucus?

"Why has Helen Clark not told the public that there will be no "uncontrolled" release of GMOs? New Zealand has some of the toughest controls in the world. The whole GE debate in bogus.

"It is left versus right, Labour/Green versus National/ACT this election, like every previous election."

TVNZ Opinion Poll - 1987

Labour

National

Social Credit

20th June 1987 (About where we are now)

61%

35%

4%

Actual Election Result - 15 August 1987

48%

44%

6%

Attachment: Actual Election Results, showing the last time a party reached 50% was 1951.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media