National clear on Epsom

Act party leader Rodney Hide says he has not been reduced to desperation politics. Picture / Dean Purcell

National has definitively told Epsom voters to support its candidate, Richard Worth, in a letter circulated to all households from party president Judy Kirk.

Mrs Kirk said the letter was sent to end confusion that had been heightened by new billboards.

The board was planning no similar post-out in other electorates, she said.

The letter is the ultimate confirmation that the party does not want to offer Act leader Rodney Hide in Epsom any sort of lifeline. Not to have said anything at all could be seen as a lack of support for the National candidate and a nod-and-a-wink approval for National voters to back Mr Hide.

And any suggestion that Mr Hide might win in Epsom would likely lift Act's party vote across the country and take votes off National.

The decision by New Zealand First and United Future to deal with the party with the highest number of votes means National has greater reason to maximise its vote.

Act president Catherine Judd said last night that there was no chance that the party would recommend its voters support National.

Earlier yesterday Mr Hide said his party would insist National forge ahead with its promises for tax cuts and the abolition of the Maori seats if the two were in a coalition.

To a small audience at the Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, Mr Hide warned that National's tax cut promises could be cancelled or watered down if it was forced to rely on United Future or New Zealand First.

"National has not let people know just how fragile their tax policies are. Their public courting of United Future puts their tax cuts in jeopardy. Seeking New Zealand First's support will create even greater problems for National given New Zealand First's spending promises and commitments to special interest groups.

"Only Act can guarantee the implementation of National's tax cut policy."

He said the Maori seats must also go "to end racial privilege".

Act would insist on a binding referendum by March 31, 2006, because it was a constitutional issue.

He made the speech just before Act MP Kenneth Wang led an anti-racism "rally" for Asian constituents, warning against Winston Peters.

Mr Hide denied he was playing the race card himself.

Unless Hide can confound the polls, his bottom lines could be irrelevant.

Mr Hide continued to insist he would win Epsom, and that several Act MPs would return to Parliament.

He said he had not been reduced to desperation politics.