David Cunliffe
Labour Leader

23 June 2014

John Key must come clean over coat-tailing

John Key and the National Party must come clean now over their coat-tailing intentions for the upcoming election, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“The Prime Minister needs to rule out right doing deals or standing aside in Epsom, Ōhariu and East-Coast Bays so voters can have confidence their voices and intentions will not be misplaced.

“The decision of Conservatives leader Colin Craig to stand in East-Coast Bays raises the question of a ‘cup-of-tea’ deal in that electorate.

“At the same time United Future leader Peter Dunne is desperate for a wink and a nod in Ōhariu and, despite his best attempts to appear blasé, ACT’s Epsom candidate David Seymour’s only hope of winning is if his National rival Paul Goldsmith remains replaced by a bag of flour.

“Labour is calling on John Key to rule out National pulling its candidates standing against ACT in Epsom and United Future in Ōhariu.

“Voters hate special deals and electoral rorts.

“A poll this morning shows an on overwhelming number of New Zealander are opposed to coat-tailing. When 81.6 per cent of the electorate say get rid of it, the Prime Minister should listen.

“Labour has a Members’ Bill before Parliament which would end this unpopular electoral rort in line with the recommendations of the Electoral Commission.

“It is an electoral anomaly that brings our democratic processes into disrepute and we repeat our challenge to John Key to join with Labour to put an end to it,” David Cunliffe says.

ENDS

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