• Full Story

National's lead likely to disappear - English

Email
Print

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:03a.m.

"That gap is almost certainly going to close," Mr English says (file)

"That gap is almost certainly going to close," Mr English says (file)

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English says National's strong lead in the polls is likely to diminish when people start focusing on the November 26 elections.

Two polls released on Sunday showed National holding enough of the party vote to govern alone - something that hasn't happened since MMP was introduced in 1996.

Labour was at a 15-year low in a 3 News-Reid Research poll, dropping 2.2 points to 26.6 per cent, while National was up 3.5 points to 57.4 per cent.

Labour had a slightly better result in a One News Colmar Brunton poll, dropping one point from the previous poll to 29 per cent while National was steady on 56 per cent.

"That gap is almost certainly going to close," Mr English said on Monday.

"People haven't been focused on politics recently.

"In the last month before the election there's going to be an intense campaign, and when New Zealanders focus on it they always pull a government back a bit."

Mr English said the government was going to focus on telling the public the things it had to do to get the economy moving and producing more jobs and higher incomes.

"The issues are pretty clear - a more competitive economy and getting back into surplus," he said on NewstalkZB.

NZN
Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

12 Oct 2011 12:28p.m.

Matt wrote:

I agree steve, the media especially TV1 favours key, so does the Herald. it's like Key has had an easy run. WHERE ARE THE HARD QUESTIONS JOURNALISTS?

04 Oct 2011 11:34a.m.

zac wrote:

That is probably the most truthful statement you have ever made in your political life. Now you have restored some credibility in my book for saying that. Well done Mr English.

04 Oct 2011 11:20a.m.

Malcolm wrote:

I find it so hard to believe National remains so popular when I know or see very few people anywhere who support National. Even on these articles there are almost no people commenting that say anything good about National.

04 Oct 2011 05:54a.m.

Alex wrote:

The only poll that really means something is the one that will occur on Nov 26

03 Oct 2011 04:40p.m.

Hamish wrote:

Ask any stats lecturer and they will say the polls are crap, National have actually pushed a lot of voters away the race will be closer than people think. Two of the opposition parties are talking a fairer tax system, probably have one within 3 years. And if we lose MMP then the talk is already about of a grand coalition of the left, there is lots of left parties now and they can all agree on the core issues. Nationals BS will push it that way for sure. Pity theres not a middle way, I only vote left because the nats hate the people. Just look to cherie's comments for confirmation.

03 Oct 2011 03:09p.m.

Mike wrote:

Easy win for National.But they had better not get to comfortable, because when Goff is gone, hopefully Labour will be back as strong as ever and give the voters something to think about again.

03 Oct 2011 12:56p.m.

Steve wrote:

A strong candidate for misleading headline of the year. Are you trying to suggest that Bill English thinks National's lead is going to "disappear"? He siad Diminsh. Very sloppy TV3.

03 Oct 2011 11:44a.m.

Rose wrote:

Personally I dont believe the polls, I think they are being used to manipulate us. I can't wait for the election, it's going to be a close one, bring it on!!!

03 Oct 2011 11:34a.m.

cherie wrote:

Yes the gaps close the closer we get and that is normally due to the over the top, uneducated, financialy crippling lollies that the oppersition throw to the public during this time. Student free loans won it for Labour the last time and look what it has done to the country.

03 Oct 2011 11:14a.m.

Ruz wrote:

Despite what English says, there seems little doubt that support for National will hold up reasonably well after the RWC party comes to an end. Labour will continue to poll poorly while Phil Off is its leader. Labour know that they have little prospect of winning the November election let alone attracting back those voters who have fled to the Greens. Goff will be gone as leader before the end of the year and it will then be up to Labour to select a new leader to win back electoral support heading into the 2014 election.