Grey Power 'won't be bullied by Brash'

Don Brash

Grey Power will not be changing its message to members despite an attempt by National leader Don Brash to "bully" it, the organisation's president Graham Stairmand says.

Mr Stairmand said today Dr Brash had written to Grey Power accusing it of favouring New Zealand First.

Dr Brash's letter said National would not be pressured into "grossly irresponsible" policies for the elderly, which smaller parties were promising.

But Mr Stairmand disputed Dr Brash's claim that the organisation was encouraging members to vote for NZ First.

"We have never ever recommended to our members that they support any particular party and we never will," he told NZPA.

"What we have said to our members, is you should think about history."

History showed that in coalition governments the minor party had been the one to win gains on things such as superannuation, he said.

In 1996 NZ First, when in coalition with National, had succeeded in getting the superannuation surcharge abolished.

In 1999 the Alliance had forced Labour to lift superannuation payments as a proportion of the average wage at the start of the term rather than the end.

But Mr Stairmand said those statements did not equate to support for NZ First or telling members not to vote for National.

He said Grey Power also encouraged its members to look at the "long-term sustainability" of parties' policies.

NZ First leader Winston Peters was very popular with some members, but individual members supported parties across the spectrum

Mr Stairmand said the letter could be seen as an attempt to bully Grey Power into putting out a message more favourable to National, but the organisation would not be changing its statements.

Some members would be offended by Dr Brash's letter, he said.  Mr Stairmand said he had written back to Dr Brash rejecting his claims.

Dr Brash was not immediately available for comment this morning.

However National strategist Murray McCully told the Herald that Dr Brash was simply engaging in honest and "robust debate".

The stoush comes as both National and Labour try to claw back support from elderly voters won over in recent years to NZ First, which has promised to increase superannuation payments and greatly increase health spending.

- NZPA