Dunne and Clark 'stay in touch'

12.30pm - By BERNARD ORSMAN

The leader of United Future, Peter Dunne, received a "courtesy" call from Prime Minister Helen Clark at 11.15am today.

Mr Dunne, whose party of nine MPs is a potential ally for Labour in the new Parliament, said he and the Prime Minister discussed the election results and its implications.

"We agreed that we should keep in touch from time to time over the next few days as things just settle down," Mr Dunne said.

United Future is keen to play a role in the new Government, either as a full coalition partner with Labour or by backing a minority Labour Government on confidence and supply.

But Mr Dunne said he would want some kind of arrangement with Labour in return.

The nine United MPs, eight of whom are new to Parliament, will hold their first caucus meeting in Wellington on Tuesday.

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