“Amazing, but true,” he said.

“This morning I gave them every reason to reconsider the sheer folly of their plan to refuse leave for Parliament to debate this crucial and hugely significant issue, but sure enough, they ploughed on with this silliness.

“As National seeks to score minor political points, the world around them is marching on towards war. They really are in a world of their own.

“Today was the best opportunity so far for getting that debate, and National was the only party opposed.

“They may call us Government lackeys, but we have never opposed any motion for a debate on this important issue and nor will we in the future – no matter who proposes it. The National Party should look at the bigger picture for once and worry about something other than petty internal parliamentary squabbles.

“The situation in Iraq is one of the biggest issues currently facing New Zealand and indeed the world – it is certainly more important than the Members’ Bills on today’s Order Paper such as the Holidays Bill, the Status of Redundancy Payments Bill and the National Certificate in Educational Achievement Moratorium Bill.

“Again, I have to ask, just what is National scared of?”

Ends.