23 July 2002

Labour On The Way Out?

There is now a distinct possibility that National will be able to cobble together a minority coalition government according to Save Our Squadrons Campaign spokesperson, David Dickens.

"Our polling after last night's Holmes show suggests that English won the leader's debate by a small margin and that support for Labour is continuing to drop away. We are projecting a 36.5% party vote for Labour, 33% for National, 10% for New Zealand First, 7.5% for ACT and 3.5% for United Future. The Greens have lost their freshness to the electorate and now risk losing out altogether if Fitzsimons fails to win Coromandel. If support for Labour continues to fade and the Greens falter, then Helen Clark can wave goodbye to even a minority Government."

"We are not only asking the Campaign's supporters to use their party votes wisely, we are also asking them to use their electorate votes strategically."

"Brian Neeson is a strong supporter of the air combat force and deserves the electorate vote in Helensville standing as an independent."

"A strong electorate vote for United Futures' Peter Dunne in Ohariu-Belmont will give them three or four MPs. United Future supports the re-establishment of the air combat force."

"The Christian Heritage Party has a strong defence policy which advocates the reconstitution of a combat effective air strike force. Christian Heritage's Merepeka Ruakawa-Tait is polling just behind Labour's Georgina Bayer in Wairarapa."

"There is every prospect that National's Sandra Goudie will win Coromandel ahead of Jeanette Fitzsimons."

"National's Marie Hasler is pro-defence and we want her to keep Laila Harre out of Waitakere."

"Even Jim Anderton could be dethroned in Wigram if enough electorate votes can be channelled the way of National's Alec Neill."

"Naturally the electorate vote in Tauranga should go to Winston Peters whilst we would like to see Epsom go to ACT's Rodney Hide."

"With power in the offing, we see a centre-right dominated coalition with Bill English as Prime Minister, Winston Peters as his deputy (and perhaps Minister of Immigration), Don Brash bracketed with Rodney Hide as Treasurer/Minister of Finance, Richard Prebble as Minister of Justice, and Ron Mark as Minister of Defence".

If Labour is not already worried, it should be.

Further information on our DigiPoll survey and the defence policies of the main political parties is available at www.soscampaign.co.nz or contact Dr David Dickens on (04) 475 4117.

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