Labour urges 'wise vote' to beat Revell

By THERESA GARNER

Labour is asking people in the National-held seat of Northcote to vote tactically to topple sitting MP Ian Revell.

Candidate Ann Hartley, a former North Shore mayor, said she had the best chance of unseating Mr Revell.

"While no deals are being done between Labour and the Alliance, it is important that voters understand the position.

"I urge voters to think clearly and act wisely next Saturday."

She said the Alliance's Grant Gillon would continue to work well as a list MP - a remark that did not impress him.

"I'm disappointed that this is being used as a tactic," he said.

"I'm sort of a sitting MP. She's a candidate, and she's going to get in on the list anyway."

Northcote is Labour's best chance of winning a North Shore seat. It needs a swing of 10 per cent to unseat Mr Revell, whose reputation has suffered from last year's row over parking fines that led to his resignation as Deputy Speaker.

Last election, Mr Gillon won 11.7 per cent of the vote, Ann Hartley received 27.6 per cent and Mr Revell 41 per cent.

Ann Hartley said a Labour poll three weeks ago showed she and Mr Revell were equal on 25 per cent, while Mr Gillon was 10 percentage points behind.

She was annoyed that Mr Gillon was telling the media he could win. "He can't."

Mr Revell said he was the only one of the three not seeking the "safety" of a list place. The others were so high on their respective lists they would get in anyway.

Meanwhile, a plan for a combined Labour and Alliance push in Nelson to unseat National MP Nick Smith is off, as Labour fears it will imperil the party vote.

Campaign manager Mike Williams told all electorate organisations there would be no tactical voting deals anywhere.

But he had no problems with Ann Hartley's comments because there was no suggestion that Labour voters should give the Alliance their party vote.