Anderton's slip ties him to new party

By AUDREY YOUNG

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton made an embarrassing slip of the tongue yesterday by referring to the Progressive Coalition as "we".

He made the gaffe while under further pressure in Parliament over his decision to remain Alliance leader given that he plans to join and lead the Progressive Coalition after the House rises for the election.

His plans appear to have significantly affected his reputation.

The Herald has obtained a poll showing that Mr Anderton's favourability rating has slumped to its worst level in five years.

Mr Anderton has been at pains to keep a semblance of separation from the Progressive Coalition, which is being set up by disaffected Alliance members, including many Democratic Party members.

Yesterday he blew it.

National deputy leader Roger Sowry was attacking Mr Anderton for his plans to remain a member of Parliament after he has joined the Progressive Coalition, even for a few weeks between when the House rises and the election.

Mr Sowry: How can he, as a self-proclaimed opponent of party-hopping, accept a month's worth of salaries and perks having joined a new party and started to campaign against his old party?

Mr Anderton: The last part of the question is wrong. I have not campaigned for any other party. I have not joined any other party. Let me put it to you that every report I get about the new party, they are extremely grateful for the publicity the Opposition give them because the more we are attacked [hoots of derision] ...

Mr Anderton then corrected himself: "The more the people who are forming the Progressive Coalition are attacked by the National Party and Act, the more people join in their droves."

Mr Anderton is expected to win his Wigram electorate, which he holds with a 9885-vote majority.

But the balance of his favourable-unfavourable ratings has reversed since he announced the Alliance split in April.

His unfavourable rating of 56 per cent cent, compared with a favourable rating of 35 per cent, in a UMR Research poll early this month is his worst personal result in five years.

Mr Anderton came under attack yesterday from National, Act, New Zealand First and the Greens.

Act deputy leader Ken Shirley suggested that he must have done a deal with Prime Minister Helen Clark in order for her to have endorsed his return to the cabinet if he is re-elected.

Mr Anderton said no deal had been done.

But sources suggest that to reward Labour's good faith in Mr Anderton, the Progressive Coalition might not contest some of the National-held marginal seats identified by Labour president Mike Williams as winnable by Labour.

In the past he has identified Whangarei, Tauranga, Rangitikei, Kaikoura and Otago. .

National MP Simon Power, for example, holds Rangitikei by just 289 votes. Last election, the Alliance polled 2221 votes. More of those votes might go Labour's way if Mr Anderton's new party does not stand there.

Mr Williams said he had not had discussions with the Progressive Coalition about such a gesture.

Labour's electoral accommodation with the Green Party is under review after the Greens' ultimatum last week. It said it would not support any government that lifted the moratorium on commercial release of genetically modified organisms, due to end in October next year.

Helen Clark had encouraged Labour supporters to vote for Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons in the Coromandel electorate, which she holds with a 250-vote majority.

But now the Prime Minister is rethinking that advice in what she calls a "period of reflection".

Without the electorate seat, the Greens would have to get more than 5 per cent of the party vote nationwide to get any candidates into the House. Last election, they polled just 5.16 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Green Party has decided that MP Sue Kedgley, who wanted to stand in Wellington Central, will not contest the seat.

Many of the party's resources will go on the Coromandel electorate.