Mar 15, 2008

Key On R&D

John Key has been criticised around agriculture circles this week for opposing the Government's $700 million bribe to the scientists. Colin Espiner, analyses this and concludes that Key did not have much option other than to oppose

It’s difficult to see what else Key could have said, however. The way Cullen is carrying on, you’d think National was honour-bound to implement all the Government’s policies.

The problem is, the more Cullen promises that Key agrees to, the less money an incoming National government would have to play with. It’s a trick Labour has been playing for a while, but with the downturn in the economy there’s already precious little for Key to earmark for National’s own policy promises. The last thing Key needs is another $700m gone from the kitty.