Peters declares war on Labour

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Winston Peters says his party plans to be Parliament's most powerful opposition force.

The day after storming back on to the political scene as leader of the third biggest party in the new Parliament, Mr Peters turned his attack on Labour leader Helen Clark and her plans to cobble together a government without New Zealand First.

"The Labour Party's rejection of NZ First was an absolute act of betrayal given their frequent desire for co-operation during these past 2 1/2 years," he said.

"We're not going to get angry about it.

"We just know what that all means, and so does anyone who has analysed the situation."

He said NZ First was now firmly "in opposition".

"Stand back and watch and see what that means," he said.

Asked by reporters at a Tauranga press conference if NZ First would support Labour on confidence and supply votes, Mr Peters asked "Why?" - and then said "No".

"When you're totally rejected by a political party, there are consequences to that," he said.

"Helen Clark has made it clear what she wants ... now [she can] live with it.

"I didn't start this attack on anybody, Helen Clark started it on me."

Mr Peters predicted the new government would not last the full three-year term.

It would be in a precarious state, he said, because of the instability of the Greens who had threatened to withdraw support if a genetic modification moratorium was lifted next October.

Mr Peters said the public had been fooled by United Future leader Peter Dunne, who had voted consistently with National in the last Parliament.

"If you look at the psyche of the caucus he has brought with him and those that support him, how he can be in combination with the Labour Party is beyond me."

Mr Peters said joining with the Labour Party would be a fatal move for United Future. "But some people are obsessed with power."

Mr Peters criticised the Greens, Mr Dunne and Progressive Coalition leader Jim Anderton as being power-hungry.

"They are sort of doormat material, we're not," he said.

The NZ First leader also scorned the performance of the National Party and leader Bill English.

"His party is in freefall and it may be the end of it," he said.

"The National Party lacks integrity, leadership. It lacks any vision and purpose - and worst of all it doesn't understand what the word 'national' means."

He said the party's demise had begun back in 1990.

"This was always going to happen," he said. "They ignored all the signs.

"They were so power-hungry, they believed they were born to rule and now they are paying a massive price for it."

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