"The famous National Party double standard is in evidence again in their latest tax bribe," Labour finance spokesperson Michael Cullen said today.

Dr Cullen was commenting on Bill English's sly promise in the Weekend Herald to lower the corporate tax rate to 30c next term in the unlikely event that National is re-elected.

"It is their most shameless bribe yet,and pathetic because Mr English is unable to put a firm date on it. All he can say is that he will move when conditions allow.

"It is also a blatant piece of hypocrisy. National has gone on, and on, and on, and on, and on about how Labour's plan to introduce a new 39c income tax step for the 5 percent of taxpayers on incomes over $60,000 will lead to large scale tax avoidance.

"Now - suddenly - they are splitting the two rates themselves as Mr English's tax cut will apply only to the corporate rate.

"Are we to believe that the incentives to enter tax minimisation arrangements apply only if Labour splits the rates and not if National does?

"Or are we to believe that National's election nerves have led it to shed yet another of its principles?

"Only last month Mr English ruled out a 3c cut to the company rate saying the country could not afrod it. His precise words, on Morning Report, 22 September were:

"Because of the recession last year, the Government's accounts will barely balance this year and we would need an economy recovering at a pretty good pace over the next couple of years to be able to afford it."

"What has changed since beyond the fact that Jenny Shipley lost the TV3 leaders' debate to Helen Clark," Dr Cullen said.

© Scoop Media