Brash orders 'offensive' picture of PM removed from website

The picture on the Young Nats website

A picture on the Young Nats website portraying Prime Minister Helen Clark as Star Wars character Darth Vader is to be withdrawn after a request by National leader Don Brash.

Personality politics has reached a new low in New Zealand in recent days and today Miss Clark complained of "extreme right-wing rhetoric" that had evolved under Dr Brash's leadership of National.

She said it included a whispering campaign suggesting her husband Peter Davis was gay and National Party-linked websites slandering her.

On the Young Nats website she was portrayed as Star Wars character Darth Vader -- telling Luke Skywalker she was his "lesbian father".

"If we had a site with Don Brash's head on a women's body saying, quote -- 'I'm your homosexual mother' -- people would be affronted," Miss Clark told National Radio.

"I think this has all gone far too far."

A spokesman for Dr Brash said as soon as he became aware of the material he asked for it to be removed.

"I do not want to engage in personal attacks either on Helen Clark, or her Cabinet, or her MPs or their families. I think that is completely inappropriate and I've made it clear to my colleagues that is my view," he said.

- NZPA