A pro-MMP poster from the early 90s.
They didn't vote for it and they don't like it - but Michael Cullen and Bill English insist the MMP system of voting is here to stay.
Labour's Finance Minister and National's finance spokesman went head to head at the Herald's Mood of the Boardroom debate and told
business leaders that, no matter who controlled the government after the next election, MMP would not go.
A survey of the leaders showed nearly eight out of 10 large-company chief executives believed MMP stopped governments from implementing policies necessary for the country's success.
At a breakfast function to launch the Mood of the Boardroom report yesterday, Dr Cullen admitted to some sympathy with that point of view. "The number of groups I have to work with seems to grow every week," he said. "I don't like it, I did not vote for it, but we have to make it work ... and we do."
MMP - Mixed Member Proportional representation - was introduced 11 years ago.
The Mood of the Boardroom survey showed that fewer than one in five CEOs thought MMP helped the country. Seventy-seven per cent wanted a referendum on MMP versus first past the post. A similar proportion would welcome MMP being put to the vote against other forms of proportional representation.
But Mr English said yesterday that a National-controlled government would not hold a referendum. He said he had campaigned against its introduction, but the public had wanted it.
It would be difficult for a National government to use the MMP system that voters wanted to take power only to get rid of it once it had served its purpose, he said.
