Locke threatens to run naked to keep Hide out

Keith Locke

Green MP Keith Locke is doing his bit to keep Rodney Hide out of the Epsom seat - threatening to run naked down the streets of the electorate if Mr Hide wins.

The promise to the 850 gathered at an Epsom political forum last night was just one more bizarre aspect in what must be the oddest electorate campaign this election, which has National spurning its natural ally and Labour floating the possibility of supporting its natural enemy.

Epsom MP Richard Worth joined in showing Mr Hide the cold shoulder with a prophecy National would slide in the polls if it were seen "cosying up" to the Act Party.

At the Maxim Institute forum in the Greenlane Christian Centre, National's candidate for Epsom said a large part of the party's polling success was because of disaffected Labour voters.

"In the latest poll National was on 46 per cent," Mr Worth said. "In that is some of the disaffected Labour vote. For National and Act to cosy up could well mean a lot of that party vote will migrate back to its traditional homeland with Labour.

"It's really important National holds that disaffected Labour vote and there is a real danger it could be lost if we cosy up to Act."

However, Mr Hide stuck to the line he has used throughout the campaign, that National will be lost if it does not have Act by its side as a coalition partner. He said Mr Worth was guaranteed a place in Parliament on the list and if he (Mr Hide) won Epsom he could take more Act MPs into Parliament on his coat-tails.

"That may make all the difference to whether we have a National-led government or a Labour-led Greens government.

"This is the most important electorate in the country. That is why Helen Clark is taking such an interest in Epsom, because she knows if I win Epsom her chances of being Prime Minister again are dramatically lessened."

Speaking for Labour, John Tamihere said Helen Clark was on standby to direct Labour candidate Stuart Nash to back off the race if Don Brash cut a deal on the Epsom seat.

"Labour is not in the business to do anything that allows Rodney Hide back into Parliament."

Mr Nash - wearing a red and blue striped tie in what must have been an intentional nod to the schizophrenic position he holds - said he would back that call "100 per cent", but urged Labour supporters to vote for him if it did not happen.

"If a deal is done, please use your common sense to make sure Rodney and Act are not returned to Parliament. I am 100 per cent behind our Prime Minister, so please take your direction from her."

Mr Worth said Mr Hide's message was confusing voters.

He said Labour's polling put him (Mr Worth) on 50 per cent, Mr Nash on 31 per cent and Mr Hide on just under 15 per cent.

"One issue I urge you to think about in Epsom is if you split the centre-right vote you will allow parties on the left to come through."