29 November 1999

DEREK BEST’S SOURNESS IN DEFEAT AN INSULT TO OHARIU BELMONT VOTERS

United New Zealand leader and Ohariu Belmont MP, Hon Peter Dunne, has slammed the sourness of his Labour opponent, Derek Best, following Mr Dunne’s resounding election win.

He says it is time the Labour Party “just grew up” in Ohariu Belmont.

“Comments by Mr Best that I am a ‘waste of space’ are simply pathetic and while they do not worry me personally, they are an extraordinary calculated insult to Ohariu Belmont voters and their judgement.”

“Frankly, I have had enough of this petty Labour bitterness, and judging from the election results, so have the people of Ohariu Belmont.”

“Of course, there are some Labour people who will never forgive me leaving Labour over 5 years ago, but time moves on and the voters of Ohariu Belmont have re-elected me twice since that time, with resounding majorities that have gone up on each occasion.”

“By contrast, Labour’s electorate vote has fallen both times and is now about under half what it was when I was the Labour candidate in the area.”

“For his part, Mr Best’s churlishness is unprecedented in my political experience.”

“He or his campaign team have not even had the good grace to make any contact at all with me since the election – the first time this has happened in the six elections I have fought,” Mr Dunne says.

Mr Dunne says the Ohariu Belmont Labour Party’s “militant tendency” grumpiness is utterly out of step with the mood of local voters, and takes much of the gloss away from the goodwill that should be extended to Helen Clark on her election victory.

ENDS

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
h (04)471 9410 or (025) 469 808. Fax (04)499 7266.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

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