Media Statement
For immediate release
Monday, 5 September 2005

Baldock calls on Clarkson to make intentions clear

The idea that Tauranga's National Party candidate, Bob Clarkson, might be asked by his party leadership to step aside to prop up Winston Peters is outrageous and an insult to the people of Tauranga, United Future’s Tauranga MP, Larry Baldock, said today.

“Any such deal would send the signal that the kind of arrogance that existed in the National Party of old is still alive and well,” Mr Baldock said.

“The party leadership and the local candidate should make their intentions clear and stop thinking they can play ‘democracy chess’. If they don’t want to see Winston defeated in Tauranga, I certainly do,” he said.

“I made my intentions clear a week ago when I said that those of us campaigning hard for the electorate vote should take note of the polls so we do not split the vote as was the case in 1999.

“That, of course, changes if National withdraw or Mr Clarkson is disqualified through overspending.

“Tauranga deserves an electorate MP who will work to represent it in Wellington.

“Over the past three years we have had myself as a list MP working hard for Tauranga and the electorate MP working for himself and sometimes even against the interests of the city.”

ENDS

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