"Helen Clark's submission against the construction of a boarding house near her Auckland home is a crass example of snobbery and double standards," National's Housing Spokesman Tony Ryall said today.

"In her submission, sent on Parliamentary letterhead, she twice refers to the danger that residents of the boarding house might live 'without adequate support'. But instead of being concerned for their welfare, she uses this as justification for saying they might be 'difficult neighbours' or present 'an unwarranted intrusion on this residential neighbourhood'.

"So much for her pre-election rhetoric about improving people's attitudes towards those with mental illnesses and supporting community based services. She has shown herself to be the biggest "not-in-my-neighbourhood" snob since Margot Leadbetter on 'The Good Life'.

"There are housing problems in Auckland such as overcrowding and before the election Helen Clark promised to do a lot about them. But Labour has now been in Government for 9 months, and in that time not one extra state house has been built.

"She also needs to explain her use of Parliamentary letterhead. Was she trying to throw her political weight around?

"Helen Clark should be ashamed of herself, preaching understanding and compassion, but acting like an utter snob. Any pretensions she might hold about inheriting the mantle of Norman Kirk have been shown to be utterly false by this vulgar display which shows her to be devoid of concern or sympathy," Tony Ryall said.

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