It's betrayal, Jim, but not as you know it

The Greens are calling on Jim Sutton to chill out over Trade Ambassador Tim Groser's selection as a National list candidate.

"Jim should breathe through his nose rather than accuse his Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation of betrayal," Green Co-Leader Rod Donald said.

"Mr Sutton is angry because he claims Mr Groser cannot support both the government of the day and National. Clearly, he can because their trade policies are identical."

"If anything, Groser's selection only strengthens the Labour Government's reputation for embracing a right-wing trade agenda," Mr Donald said.

"The fact is you couldn't slide a trade memo between Labour and National's free-trade policies. Both are obsessed with liberalising trade at the expense of jobs, small businesses and the environment.

"As a public servant, Mr Groser is obviously required to take leave from his post before the election. It would be an insult to voters if he didn't then front up to the electorate to justify why people should vote for him.

"If, on the other hand, he is elected, he must choose between the WTO and his Parliamentary obligations. He should certainly not be sworn in as a New Zealand MP and then disappear to Geneva to do another job. However, he could delay being sworn in to complete his WTO responsibilities, but that would mean National could not cast his vote."

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