Media Release

26 September 2001

When The Going Gets Tough The Pm Folds. Where's Brian And Has He Still Got A Life?

The last month has shown that Helen Clark is far from the infallible figure willingly portrayed to the media, according to New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“Ms Clark’s facade has definitely cracked over the last month. She has simply not handled the real pressures of office at all, and her government is showing the first real signs of meltdown,” said Mr Peters.

“The outbursts today from Dr Cullen in which he explicitly blamed the media for putting stupid statements into the Prime Minister’s mouth are a sign that this government is in panic mode, and has resorted to making policy on the hoof once again.

“The Government also appears to be shocked that they are not getting the usual sycophantic treatment from the media, who for the first time since 1996 have not shown Ms Clark in scintillating glory. The media have turned on the Government and the politicians don’t know how to handle it.

“Over the past month we have seen Ms Clark make foreign policy on the hoof. We have seen her make decisions on refugees on the hoof. And now she is making financial decisions on the hoof, none of which have been thought through and now Labour is reaping the consequences.

“In effect Mr Cullen has said that the Prime Minister said those stupid things because she was asked stupid questions in an interview. It might be time to call Brian Edwards back for more media training sessions,” concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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