National’s Watts Dismissive Of Working With ‘Left Wing’ Opportunity

Lillian
Hanly Political Reporter

Morning
Report

National’s
Simon Watts has scoffed at the idea of working with the
Opportunity party, telling RNZ “don’t be
ridiculous.”

But neither Watts nor Labour’s Carmel
Sepuloni would rule out working with Opportunity.

The
latest RNZ Reid Research poll has the party at 4.7 percent,
right on the cusp of entering Parliament.

Opportunity
leader Qiulae Wong says the party could sit on Parliament’s
cross benches, if it can’t reach a coalition agreement with
National or Labour.

Speaking on Morning
Report‘s Political Panel, Watts said “don’t be
ridiculous” when asked about working with the
party.

“They’re a left wing party.

“Their
strategy to get into government is to tax people more and
put everyone on welfare.

“Well, that’s completely
against the principles that I believe in and that our party
values believe in,” Watts said.

ACT leader David
Seymour had a similar response on Tuesday, saying
Opportunity’s basic premise was to “solve the welfare
problem by putting everyone on welfare, and then pay for
that by taxing your property”.

Meanwhile, Labour
leader Chris Hipkins said it was a risk to support them,
firstly, because the party might support a National
government and secondly, because it would become a wasted
vote.

“And that potentially helps the parties on the
other side of the aisle get back into
government.”

Wong said the rhetoric coming from some
of the leaders was “old school, playing into tribal
politics.”

“Trying to put us in a box rather than try
and find the common ground.”

Speaking on Wednesday,
Watts said National was focused on its plan and on economic
management.

Asked to rule out working with
Opportunity, Watts declined.

“No, I’m not. I don’t get
into in and out.”

Sepuloni also said Labour wasn’t at
the point of ruling potential coalition partners in or
out.

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