Election 2014: Crumbs off the buoyant PM's table

Prime Minister John Key yesterday said he had spoken to United Future leader Peter Dunne and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell (left). Photo / Getty Images

The election success of National has weakened the bargaining power of their support parties.

Prime Minister John Key yesterday said he had spoken to United Future leader Peter Dunne and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell. His office has spoken to Act MP David Seymour.

It was "highly likely" that National would have confidence and supply agreements with Act, United Future and the Maori Party and he expected to discuss ministerial positions with Mr Dunne and Mr Flavell.

Key: 'A centrist Government '

Mr Seymour conceded his party wasn't holding a strong hand. "We are, of course, starting from a position of very little leverage."

While he accepted he was new to Parliament and would have a focus on being an effective Epsom MP, "actually being, for example, the associate minister of education and keep working on enhancing our partnership school policy would have some benefit but of course it's entirely up to the Prime Minister".

Mr Key did not rule out a portfolio for Mr Seymour yesterday.

Mr Flavell and Mr Dunne were refusing to reveal their hands before talks with National.

Mr Flavell said "we're not in a position to talk about any sort of deals or anything like that at the moment".

Mr Dunne refused to comment on whether he would again seek the revenue portfolio that he'd held until resigning it in June last year.