Clark's race relations U-turn doubted

A political poll has found that 70 per cent of the public do not believe Prime Minister Helen Clark's apparent u-turn on race relations policy is sincere.

The TV3/NCM poll yesterday underlined National's surge in popularity, with National recording 42 per cent and Labour 39 per cent support.

The poll was taken a week after the PM announced a review of race-based policies and a rethink on treaty clauses in legislation.

At the same time the Government announced an end to school closure reviews.

TV3's previous poll, at the beginning of February, had Labour on 43 per cent support and National on 32 points.

Some polls since have shown National ahead of or close to Labour in popularity after National leader Don Brash's speech on race relations.

The poll released yesterday asked: "Helen Clark has signalled a u-turn on the Government's race relations policy. Do you think Helen Clark is sincere about rethinking race relations policy or do you think the move is more about soothing public opinion in the short term?"

Of those polled, 70 per cent picked "soothing public opinion"; just 17 per cent said it was "sincere".

National voters were the least convinced, 87 per cent picking that the PM was trying to soothe them. Even 53 per cent of Labour voters thought they were just being soothed and 31 per cent said it was sincere.

Dr Brash has also doubled his support as the preferred prime minister, from 14 per cent in the last poll to 27 per cent today.

Helen Clark remains steady on 35 per cent.

Helen Clark said she was unconcerned about the poll.

"As I've said on many occasions, there was a speech around a single issue timed in the run-up to the annual silly season around Waitangi and that gained some momentum.

"I've also acknowledged there are a lot of genuine Kiwis who have raised various concerns and the Government is listening to them."

The poll of 1000 people. has a 3.1 per cent margin of error.

- NZPA

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