United Future a low-maintenance partner

Peter Dunne

After three years working close to Government, United Future leader Peter Dunne last night repeated his stance that his party would refuse to sit around a Cabinet table with a Labour Government if the Greens were there too.

He said there were various alternative options if Labour had the majority vote - such as the Greens staying outside the Government but supporting it on confidence and supply. He said that United Future had made a commitment that the party that won the largest number of seats had the first right to join forces.

"We will see if our role is critical to that over the next few days but there is no decision tonight."

Asked how much influence a party with just 3 seats might have, he said: "If the three seats are the seats that count, then we'll have influence.

""I've made our position clear." he said. Surrounded by United Future supporters at Wellington's Backbencher Bar last night, he said the election was so far too close to call. He said it could take several weeks for a government to be formed.

"We can't make a judgement until the Special Votes come in. The numbers are still bouncing around," he said at 10.30 last night. He said he had not received a phone call from Don Brash or Helen Clark.

He paid tribute to the four or five MPs who were likely to lose their jobs. "I'm sorry that their hard work has not been rewarded and recognised," he said.

Cynics suspected that United Future would be a three-year wonder but "we've come through remarkably in tact."

Asked why United Future had not done so well in this election he said: "We are squeezed between two major parties and all the smaller parties are taking a major hit but we are here for the long haul."

Certainly, even though United Future's return to Parliament may be with reduced representation, it has increased influence.

Despite seeing its share of the vote drop from 7 per cent at the last election to just under 3 per cent this time, the party is in the box seat for coalition negotiations.

A low-maintenance coalition option for either main party, United Future has also signalled a willingness to work with NZ First if necessary, although it would prefer to avoid entanglement in a formal coalition that included Winston Peters as a partner.

How close the party will get to the cabinet table is still a matter for speculation.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY