Put Personality Politics Aside PM - Northland is the Issue

Northland MP Winston Peters has urged John Key to take a lesson from the by-election and change his attitude towards cooperating with other political parties.

Mr Key is reported as saying that he does not believe the New Zealand First Leader will be any more willing to work with National now than he has been before, saying he is the sort of politician who regards Opposition co-operation with the Government as a failure.

Mr Peters says his party has a history of cooperation over important issues but Mr Key’s idea of cooperation is agreeing with everything he says and making “deals” in the interests of a selected few.

“He fails to mention that New Zealand First tried to help make the GCSB legislation more palatable and had two meetings with National but Mr Key’s foghorn diplomacy and scorn scuttled the process.

“Mr Key cannot grasp the simple concept that Parliament is a House of Representatives of the people. It is not a finance house on Wall St that specialises in making profitable deals.”

Mr Peters says he expects a constructive and cooperative approach from the Government to improve the lot of Northland and the other regions.

“The first priorities are for jobs and infrastructure – and for some of the profits taken by exploiting Northland to be returned to the area through projects that are long overdue.

“Northland has sent the government a message and will expect a positive response,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

© Scoop Media