How to vote National to back Labour

Rodney Hide

Helen Clark has warned Labour that voters may be encouraged to vote for National's candidate in Epsom if Don Brash attempts a last-minute deal over the seat to save Act.

In a further odd MMP twist, she appeared to endorse - or at least refused to criticise - the decision of some Labour voters in Epsom to give National their electorate vote regardless - probably as a precaution against Mr Hide.

Act is polling 1 to 2 per cent in the polls and faces political oblivion unless Mr Hide wins the seat.

National has fewer potential coalition partners than Labour, but has so far rejected a deal in Epsom which could return Act with several seats and bolster National's chances of leading the next government.

With the election race so tight, it could be determined by whichever party manages to cobble together the support of enough minor parties - even if they have only a couple of seats each.

Helen Clark, who is crunching seat numbers assiduously, said yesterday National had left it "very late for an accommodation with Act".

" Leaving it this late means [National candidate] Richard Worth's name is still in the ballot paper," she said, signalling this was a strategic mistake if National did change its tune, because it would enable Labour voters to try to thwart the plan by supporting Mr Worth.

Labour had taken no position on the accommodation issue because it had not arisen, but there seemed to be a strong desire to stop Mr Hide, she said.

"I have myself heard people say, 'Well, we've never voted for Richard Worth before, but we'd rather have him than Rodney'," she said.

"So what Labour voters have to weigh up is, would there be any prospect of the Labour candidate coming through the middle, or was the only way to stop Rodney Hide to go with Richard Worth, a complex equation."

Asked if Labour would take a more formal position on how its supporters should vote if National made a deal, Helen Clark said: "Then we would have to consider what our position was."

Despite Dr Brash's refusal so far to entertain a deal, National supporters are more equivocal.

A 3 News TNS poll out this week found 42 per cent of National voters thought a deal should be made with Act, while 48 per cent were against it.

Dr Brash continued to talk tough yesterday but left the door slightly ajar, saying through a spokesman: "No deals with Act are contemplated in Epsom or anywhere else."

He added: "Labour voters in all electorates who want a tax cut should vote for National."

Mr Hide said Helen Clark's comments showed, "Me winning Epsom means she won't be Prime Minister", because it would lead to a National/Act government.

"Helen Clark realises it's now neck and neck between Richard Worth and I and that I'm on track to win. This also sends a big signal to National people that they should vote for me to defeat Helen Clark."

Mr Worth said he'd be "delighted if Labour voters recognise my commitment to Epsom".

His door-knocking had revealed "huge antipathy" towards Mr Hide.

Labour candidate Stuart Nash said he was not encouraging Labour support for Mr Worth but would revisit the issue if a deal was made.