New Zealand / Politics

Labour running dirty tricks campaign - Key

09:10 am on 6 August 2008

National Party leader John Key is accusing the Labour Party of 'gutter politics' and starting a 'dirty tricks campaign'.

A new secret recording has emerged in which National MP Lockwood Smith says he hopes the party will be able to do things in government that are not current policy.

Deputy leader Bill English was also taped at National's conference last weekend, saying the party would eventually sell Kiwibank.

Mr Key told Morning Report the recordings were not made by genuine delegates. He said Labour activists tried to get into the conference.

He said it's become clear Labour's tactics include bugging conferences and personal conversations, rorting the electoral law and condoning the stealing of emails.

Mr Key says Prime Minister Helen Clark needs to show her party is not behind the recordings.

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Labour Party deputy leader Michael Cullen told Morning Report he has absolutely no idea who made the recordings.