John MacDonald: National's vote-splitting row reeks of desperation

Christopher Luxon’s vote-splitting scrap with ACT and NZ First reeks of desperation.

He’s not happy that his coalition partners are asking voters to give them their party vote and their electorate vote to National.

Talking with Mike Hosking during this morning’s Leaders Breakfast on Newstalk ZB, he didn’t hold back. Telling voters not to listen to what ACT and NZ First are wanting them to do. Claiming that it could clear the way for a Labour-led coalition.

Which, as most people are pointing out, is nonsense. Because whether you vote for National, ACT or NZ First, you’ll still get your centre-right coalition.

He said people shouldn’t over-complicate things.

“You can play games all day long as to how you might want to do your strategic voting, whatever. There's no need for any of that stuff. At the end of the day, we've got a really good policy programme, we've laid that out really clearly. I wish someone would just literally take person on person, look at my team of ministers that I've built over the last three years and put them up against the alternatives on the other side and say, you sure as hell don't want someone else other than that person doing that job.”

Adding that he would want as many National Party MPs as possible in Cabinet.

There was also talk about speculation that, on election night, if National needs The Opportunities Party to form a government, he’ll be ousted as leader.

Christopher Luxon laughed that off. But we’ll see who laughs last.

Generally, I thought he didn’t sound his usual self. Anyone could be forgiven for being and sounding tired after such a long campaign. But he didn’t sound his usual Energiser Bunny this morning.

I also think this vote-splitting row will be doing National no favours. And I think people could be forgiven for thinking twice about National, ACT and NZ First being able to hold it together for another three years.

LISTEN ABOVE