Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Bunkle Asks Voters - Should I withdraw?

'Do you want me to stand as an electorate candidate in Wellington central or are you prepared to vote for me by giving the Alliance your party vote?'

That's the choice Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle is giving Wellington Central voters in a letter sent today.

'This is an issue about democratic choice and how to safeguard it,' Phillida Bunkle said.

She says the issue has been raised by the deal between National and Act, where National has stood aside in Wellington Central in favour of Act MP Richard Prebble.

'I am proud of my record in standing up for democracy on issues like genetically engineered food and casinos when other parties have not. I believe I've played an important role in speaking up for democratic choice.

'MMP is designed to offer voters the choice of the best person in the electorate separate from the party vote. In Wellington Central however, the two issues are not separate because of the dirty back-room deal between National and Act. Richard Prebble is trying to get away with it again.

'Some people do not want to reduce their choice to get rid of Mr Prebble and others do not want to have their choice to vote for me on the electorate vote taken away.

'I will not do a backroom deal. I believe decisions should be made in a democratic way. Voters should have their say.

'I am consulting Wellington Central in as open and direct way as possible about the choice of re-electing me through the electorate or using their party vote for the Alliance.'

Phillida Bunkle's letter has been paid for and delivered by the Alliance.

ends

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

Gordon Campbell: On How Climate Change Threatens Cricket‘s Future

Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else and complaining that he's inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” - which is how most of us would describe his own coalition agreements, 100-Day Plan, and backdated $3 billion handout to landlords... More


 
 
Public Housing Futures: Christmas Comes Early For Landlords

New CTU analysis of the National & ACT coalition agreement has shown the cost of returning interest deductibility to landlords is an extra $900M on top of National’s original proposal. This is because it is going to be implemented earlier and faster, including retrospective rebates from April 2023. More


Green Party: Petition To Save Oil & Gas Ban

“The new Government’s plan to expand oil and gas exploration is as dangerous as it is unscientific. Whatever you think about the new government, there is simply no mandate to trash the climate. We need to come together to stop them,” says James Shaw. More

PSA: MFAT Must Reverse Decision To Remove Te Reo

MFAT's decision to remove te reo from correspondence before new Ministers are sworn in risks undermining the important progress the public sector has made in honouring te Tiriti. "We are very disappointed in what is a backward decision - it simply seems to be a Ministry bowing to the racist rhetoric we heard on the election campaign trail," says Marcia Puru. More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.