Rumours of early election grow

By FRANCESCA MOLD

Rumours of an early election gathered momentum yesterday, with the Opposition claiming parliamentary staff had been told the House would rise next month in advance of polling day a few weeks later.

National's deputy leader, Roger Sowry, said staff working for a fellow MP had been told by parliamentary workers that a report on an overseas trip needed to be tabled before June 11 because it was the last day the House would be sitting.

The suggestion taken from this was that the House would rise at that time to allow MPs to prepare for an election.

Labour strategists have indicated a possible election date of July 27, which would be six weeks after a June 11 announcement.

Normally the election would be expected to be held in October or November.

National's Nick Smith backed Mr Sowry's suggestion, saying staff in Parliament's Tables Office had said to officials who were working on legislation that yesterday would be the last day for members' bills in this parliamentary session.

Members' days are held every second Wednesday when the House is sitting.

But Speaker Jonathan Hunt poured cold water on the suggestion that a signal had been sent to parliamentary workers.

"Obviously greater significance has been read into the 11 June than was warranted. As far as the Office of the Clerk is concerned, its only significance as a deadline is that reports on overseas trips can be put before a meeting that I will chair at 6pm that day."

However, National's Gerry Brownlee said the MP who had reported the information back from the Tables Office had not been mistaken.

"They know what information they were given ... "

The Government, he said, should stand up and rule out the possibility.

Leader of the House Michael Cullen responded by poking fun at National for its sinister take on talk about June 11.

"Recognising the tremble that is running through the Opposition at the prospect of having an election, I can feel the earth is moving for them and it's coming from their knees."