1 July 2002

National Party Leader Bill English says Labour is deliberately misleading voters about its stance on the Greens.

"Both National and Labour agree with the Royal Commission's position on gene technology - that is to proceed with caution - therefore it makes the Greens position irrelevant.

He says the Greens threat to pull down a Labour-Green coalition over this issue is an empty one.

"The Greens know such a move would give New Zealand the Government it deserves a National-led administration, and they disagree with us on a lot more issues than Labour.

"I've given a commitment that National would vote with Labour over lifting the GM moratorium, but I've yet to receive the same commitment from Helen Clark.

"The Prime Minister is being deliberately disingenuous by inferring she will not go into coalition with the Greens when she has already done a deal with Jeanette Fitzsimons in the Coromandel.

"Otherwise, Labour would be campaigning against Ms Fitzsimons in that seat, but they are not. Helen Clark is leaving her options open so she can stitch up a coalition with the Greens if and when the need arises."

Mr English says Labour has done other deals with the Greens in the past.

"Labour agreed to the Greens' demands to impose a GM moratorium last year, when it knew National would have supported a move not to do so.

"It's clear Labour will be quick to do a deal with the Greens, again, if it means regaining the Treasury benches," Mr English says.

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