Dunne backs National
It is significant that Peter Dunne has not just indicated a preference for National, but ruled out supporting a Labour-led Government after the election. There are probably a variety of reasons for this:
- Genuine horror at what a very left Government with up to 15 Green MPs would be like. He realised there would be no shift towards the centre if Labour gets re-elected but a big big shift to the left.
- A realisation that he may have trouble attracting support from voters wanting to change the Government unless they knew for sure a vote for United Future would be a vote for change. Now one can say that a vote for National, ACT or United Future are all votes to change the Government.
- An assumption that in a Government made up of Labour, Progressive, Greens, NZ First and the Maori Party there would be no room for him in a role of any significance.
I welcome United Future’s decision. There are some people who won’t be able to vote National, but would feel able to vote United Future, and now they can do so knowing it is a vote to change the Government.
Also Peter Dunne is a highly experienced and capable Minister, and Governments need those. Dunne’s tax policy of three rates – 10%, 20% and 30% is a very good policy, and I would be happy to have him push that along in Governmeent.