Tue 29 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
John Key has confirmed homophobe Colin Craig and his Conservative Party are a possible National coalition partner. "He's a possible partner, yeah,” the Prime Minister told TV3’s Firstline this morning. “He polled 2.5 per cent in the last election so often the smaller parties don't do so well in the polls but come election day they do a bit better when people are actually forced to say who they're going to vote for.” Key was asked about Craig’s views on the likes of gay issues, and conceded there were definitely not aligned with National’s. "He has some moral views which would probably be different to our take on things, but you've got to remember those moral issues are a conscience vote so even if he got into Parliament it doesn't mean that agenda's going to be progressed because it would take the majority will of the Parliament." Having the balance of power in coalitions has allowed parties will a small proportion of the vote to institute major policies in the past, such as ACT with the Auckland Super City and Charter Schools. Craig says his own polls have his party at around four per cent support in Auckland. However, established regular political polls show the Conservative Party polling mostly below two per cent. The latest One News Colmar Brunton Poll, conducted from 19 to 23 October, has it at 1.6 per cent.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 29th October 2013 - 2:37pm