Strategy session for Labour MPs

An all-day meeting of the Labour caucus yesterday focused on strategy for the rest of the year.

Labour MPs met at Premier House, the Wellington residence of Prime Minister Helen Clark, before next week's opening of Parliament.

She said the first draft of the speech from the throne, to be delivered on Tuesday, had been written by Labour deputy leader Michael Cullen.

The speech would "reflect the agreements" Labour had with coalition partner the Progressive Coalition and with United Future, which has promised to support the Government on confidence and supply.

Labour and the Greens also have an agreement, expected to be finalised this week, on consultation and support for legislation.

"What it's going to lay out is categories of consultation - where they want full involvement and where they want less involvement - but we won't be saying what issues go into what category," she said. "That will be something to decide from time to time."

The Greens would not be getting budget money as that was reserved for the parties providing support for confidence and supply.

Last term, the Greens supported Labour on confidence and supply and got some money to implement Green policies.

The new Parliament meets next week when MPs will be sworn in, the Speaker elected and the speech from the throne will be delivered.

- NZPA

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