Prebble resigns
April 27th, 2004 at 1:30 pm by David FarrarRichard Prebble has resigned as Leader of ACT.
My sympathies go out to his staff who all lose their jobs automatically. Never a nice place to be, even though some or all may be rehired by the next Leader.
In my opinion ACT have to elect Rodney Hide as Leader. He has huge visibility nationally, is a good performer in the House and a very hard working MP. He is their best chance of making 5%.
Rodney is a bit of a risk, as he can jump in with both feet before checking for nails in the puddle, but at 2% you need to take some risks.
I agree with Sir Roger that it would be great if Prebble stays in Parliament. He would be a huge boon to any centre right Government with his experience.
No tag for this post.
April 27th, 2004 at 1:44 pm
Agree, favor Rodney Hide over Sherley. Good speaker and quick responder. But I hope ACT remains a combination of conservatives and libertarians.
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 1:52 pm
I would be strongly in favour of Deborah Coddington, the only problem is that she lacks the experience in the house. However as with Don Brash I think that the right-wing parties will do better with a commitment to real pollicy rather than scandal-mongering (except for Winston obviously). In my opinion if Act takes a more socially liberal approach there is a huge chunk of younger voters they can cut into and cement themselves as a long term political force.
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 1:59 pm
Deborah has potential, but she is very new, plus the business affairs of her husband are very messy and this is a factor.
In liberal terms I would put Rodney in the same quadrant as Deborah. In fact she at one stage was going to vote against prostitution law reform.
Deborah as Deputy to Rodney would be a good combination.
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 2:05 pm
Personally I think Brash will cut an informal deal with ACT, pledging Epsom. Brash won’t want to have to deal with a nationally recognised party, but could handle Hide as Leader (and electorate MP), and maybe 3 other MP’s. This provides a guise of wider representation without the associated problems.
I think ACT should use this time to totally invigorate their party. Replacing Shirley as Deputy Leader with the more media savvy Coddington would certainly help. Her political naivety, I think, is actually overplayed. She
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 2:28 pm
Prebble’s move was a surprise.
Mr Farrar is usually pretty spot-on about leadership changes – he’s always on the winning side
– but look at what he said just before Prebs resigned: “Less likely that Prebble is standing down…”
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 3:11 pm
Rob –
Brash would be a damn fool to cut any “deal” (formal or otherwise) over Epsom. Why? Four words: Wellington Central and Ohariu Belmont. The voters might be thick as posts, but they tend to have a sentimental attachment to picking their own MPs. If Hide wins, good on him – but both ACT and National will not do themselves any favours by being seen trying to gerrymandering Epson. that…
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 3:25 pm
Prebble is very successful in centre-right governments. Look at the success he made of the fourth Labour government *grin*.
I’m glad he’s gone; ACT might regain some of its effectiveness. A risk for Labour would be to see the whole right wing vote lined up behind National, while anti-National forces were split. A stronger ACT helps make things a bit more sane.
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 7:06 pm
I think ACT’s irrelevant while Brash remains the leader of the National Party. A leadership change is just rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic. Brash and ACT are perceived to share the same principles, it’s just that ACT is perceived to want to implement them faster. But Brash has one thing ACT doesn’t – the machine of the National Party behind him. Jordan is correct, the right has and will continue to be lined up behind National. ACT were on the right track when they were considering the merger.
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 8:51 pm
Hide for leader and Coddington as deputy, thats my pick. We havent hada woman deputy leader of a political party for a while ( and I don’t count CHP as they are nore ofa lobby group who stands candidates at elections) However I doubt that whoever is leader will do a Brash in the polls.
Vote:April 27th, 2004 at 9:35 pm
ACT has continuously stated that it aims to be the ‘Party of Influence’. It must be assumed that its membership supports this attitude. ACT’s membership will be electing the new Leader.
Given that ACT members expect Brash/National to form the next government, they will probably want a Leader that they know will be able to hold National’s ear, as well as be able to maintain a public profile (amongst other things).
The only MP’s who will be able to influence National are Hide & possibly Franks; the only MP’s that have, or could maintain, a public profile are Hide & Coddington. Therefore Hide is likely to be elected Leader, probably with Franks as Deputy. Sorry Deborah, maybe next time.
Oh, Rob – You are wrong, Brash will not cut a deal on Epsom, for all sorts of reasons, including Craig Rapania’s above.
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