3 July 2002

"Today's flip-flop on supply and confidence by the Greens shows the left will have real trouble in delivering future stable government," says National Party Leader Bill English.

He says the Greens keep changing their minds and Labour keeps making new arrangements to accommodate them.

"It seems Helen Clark and Jeanette Fitzsimons have stitched together another deal so the Green Party will give its support on confidence and supply to any future Labour-led coalition."

Mr English says while Labour and the Greens mess around making murky deals, National is concentrating on addressing the real issues concerning New Zealanders like tougher sentences for violent criminals, resolving Treaty claims, getting teachers back in the classroom, fixing the health system and growing the economy.

"Instead of spending all their time talking about each other, I challenge Labour and the Greens to address these issues.

"It's apparent that any future Labour/Green coalition will be inherently unstable given these recent events. Meanwhile a National-led Government will be far more stable because we will not do any deals with the Greens.

"Today's events make it clear that only the centre-right can provide the strong, stable government New Zealand needs," Mr English says.

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