Gerry Brownlee MP
National Party Deputy Leader

26 January 2004

National rejects involvement in Winston Peters saga

National Party Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee is rejecting as unsubstantiated nonsense, claims that National is behind the allegations being levelled at Winston Peters.

"There is no truth to these claims, the National Party strongly rejects any suggestion it is involved in a 'smear' campaign against the New Zealand First Leader."

Mr Brownlee says the Prime Minister should check her facts before making these sorts of claims.

"This is just the sort of distraction that Helen Clark so desperately needs as her Government prepares to make unprecedented concessions to Maori over foreshore and seabed claims.

"National is committed to tackling the real issues. This politically correct left wing minority Government has always been our target, not Winston Peters," says Mr Brownlee.

"I remain deeply concerned at the way TVNZ has conducted this story. "It looks very much like a bid to curtail an MP's movements - based on pretty flimsy evidence. For that reason the state broadcaster should account to the privileges committee, " says Mr Brownlee.

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