Media Release

25 September 2007

Please Campaign on Asset Sales Mr English, Please

The arrogance of the National party knows no bounds if they think the public will buy Bill English’s latest asset sales policy, says Winston Peters.

“I could not believe what I read having just returned from Europe over the weekend – it was like a flashback to the 1980s and 90s with Richardson and Douglas.

“And we all thought Don Brash was the Richardson protégé – it now seems that English is the Manchurian candidate acting on instructions from the puppet masters when called on,” said Mr Peters.

“New Zealanders have rejected these policies once and they will not tolerate those who threaten to sell them off again. Not only is the economic argument he used flawed – as it has always been – but he’s got the politics all wrong as well.

“Mr English must not have read that section of the Hollow Men – where National was warned not to raise asset sales, but to do them secretly after the election.

“A few good polls seem to have emboldened Mr English to the point where he thinks he can cavalierly announce a failed policy – including assets sales – like the hurt and pain of the failed policies of the 80s and 90s no longer matter.

“This current government cannot sell off assets because that would violate its supply and confidence agreement with New Zealand First. This is not a policy we are ever going to yield on.

“But If Mr English wants to make asset sales a key election issue next year we say bring it on. In fact, we couldn’t think of a better issue for us to campaign on,” concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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