Paul Henry joins Firstline host Rachel Smalley to discuss the build-up to the general election, which is just over three weeks away.
They discuss the “maddest electorate of them all” – Epsom – and the ‘strategic alliances’ that the National Party and ACT have.
> Click ‘view video’ for the full discussion
Paul Henry says Prime Minister John Key is “foolish” for telling the public he will be voting for National candidate Paul Goldsmith rather than ACT’s John Banks – who Mr Key wants the people of Epsom to vote for.
“It could come down to whether ACT get in or not as to whether John Key can govern after the election – so it is vitally important.
“There’s a huge backlash against John Key and goodness only knows there is a phenomenal backlash against [ACT leader] Don Brash – you look at him and if there’s anyone past their use-by date, it’s this man,” Paul Henry says.
Paul Henry also says it is a good move that New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is not standing in an electorate.
“He doesn’t want to lose another electorate, there’s no electorate he can win and he doesn’t want to risk standing in an electorate where he has the best shot he’s got and have people say ‘we’ll vote Winston for the electorate and for Labour or whatever as our party vote’ – the only way he will get in is to get the five percent threshold,” he says.
“He’s extraordinarily engaging to a certain section of the public,” Paul Henry says.
Rachel and Paul also talk about the first leader’s debate and the general build-up to the election.
3 News