6 Aug 2008

No secret agenda - National

6:55 am on 6 August 2008

The National Party insists it is being upfront about its policies and is rejecting claims of a secret agenda.

MP Lockwood Smith, was secretly recorded at National's weekend conference saying he's hopeful the party will be able to do some things in government that may not be policy right now.

Dr Smith went on to say that once National will have more chance of doing more things once it has gained the confidence of the people.

Deputy leader Bill English was taped at the same event saying National would eventually sell Kiwibank.

Labour Party deputy leader Michael Cullen says the two secret recordings show New Zealanders cannot trust anything National says.

National's leader, John Key, says Dr Smith's comments do not in any way amount to evidence of a secret agenda.

He says he refuses to be distracted by his opponents' use of dirty tricks, like secret recordings and Labour's attempts to sneak activists into National's conference.