Conservatives undecided on coalition with National

Conservative Party leader Colin Craig says his party is still deciding whether it will be a coalition partner or remain outside Government after next year’s election.

This week Prime Minister John Key said he’d be willing to discuss a deal with the Conservative Party come next election, but the Conservative Party is undecided on whether it would enter a coalition.

“I don’t think we’ve finalised that discussion even within our own party,” Mr Craig told TV3’s The Nation.

Mr Craig said he wouldn’t rule out being a party outside of a coalition so as to keep the Government honest.

“It’s not a done deal.

“There’s a lot to consider, and as I say, 12 months away would be way too premature to give an absolute like that.”

He said a lot had changed for the Conservative Party over the past 12 months.

“If that’s [the next year] as good to us as the last 12 months have been, we’re going to be in a very much stronger position 12 months from now, and that has a big bearing on how we carry out the negotiations.”

But Mr Craig said the Conservative Party would look to support the party with the highest vote.

“John Key knows that, so I think his confidence is pretty well founded that we are at least going to be talking to him first, and trying to have a safe and secure National Government.”

Mr Craig also told TV3’s The Nation there wasn’t a mandate for selling Genesis, and he wanted to see public support before more asset sales proceed.

But the party's position on asset sales wasn’t a bottom line, and wouldn’t stop the party supporting National if they were in Government together after next year’s election, he said.

“It’s not a blank cheque, but we’ve never said we’re going to give anyone a blank cheque.”

NBR Staff
Sun, 17 Nov 2013

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Conservatives undecided on coalition with National

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