Neville Key: Black is white

The headline from Newstalk ZB declares Key denies watering down Nat policies. Let's check Neville's denial against his last few days of speech-making, shall we:

• National Party leader John Key says there will be no nuclear powered ships entering New Zealand's harbours as long as he leads the party and he accepts the ANZUS treaty is dead... "For as long as I am the leader of the National Party the nuclear-free legislation will remain intact." The policy would now include no reference to a referendum.
• "I firmly believe in climate change and always have..." "...it is obvious to anyone who cares to look that all of us...have taken too long to put the protection of our environment at the forefront of our thinking. That needs to change. In the National Party we have taken steps to do this, and we will be taking more steps."
• "There will always be a social welfare system in New Zealand because you can measure a society by how it looks after its most vulnerable...."
• "...the National leader said he still supports the abolition of the Maori seats in Parliament, but believes the timetable needs to be reviewed."

But Mr Key is adamant he is not watering down the policies of former leader Don Brash. He says he is the new leader of the party and is simply putting his stamp on the role as would be expected...

Is he stupid, or does he think we are? (Yes Virginia, that is a rhetorical question.)

Watch out Helen, that's Neville Key outflanking you on the left.