11 February 2007

Breakfast plan gone by lunchtime

The decision by John Key to quietly drop National's breakfast in schools plan, proves the party has no concrete policies and is not in touch with the real issues facing students, says Education Minister Steve Maharey.

"In light of this, I renew my call for Mr Key to apologise not only to Wesley school, but to those whose hopes he raised with his half baked food programme."

Mr Maharey says to quietly drop this policy without fanfare to a Saturday newspaper, after courting publicity on it for a week, shows cynical media manipulation.

"His admission that he didn't need to 'reinvent the wheel', is a belated acknowledgement that the government is already engaged with schools and many groups, both public and private, to lift families out of poverty.

"Mr Key is now walking away from the issue saying he's been overwhelmed and is unable to manage it. Perhaps it explains why his Education spokesperson, Katherine Rich, has been conspicuously silent on the issue."

Mr Maharey says the whole cynical exercise smacks of policy on the hoof, and demonstrates that good, thoroughly considered policies are the answer.

"While John Key is considering his next brilliant idea, perhaps he could turn his attention to National's housing policy.

"His refusal three times to answer TV3's questions about whether he would raise state house rents for low income tenants, is a chilling reminder that Mr Key is a hollow man when it comes to genuinely wanting to address the complicated issue of raising living standards for those on low incomes."

ENDS

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