Returning to ACT

Blair Mulholland is returning to ACT. Good on him. I hope he likes the backstabbing and mis-trust that pervades that party, and the irreconcilible differences between the leaders personal beliefs and party policy.

I made the decision to quit ACT after Rodney Hide was made leader because I thought the party was doomed at that point. Although it was almost wiped out it is now heading towards a Dunne/Anderton type party - a single electorate MP plus any other hangers on it can get in on the list.

I also promised myself that I would not look back, and especially not look back in anger. (There will be a few happy that I won't spill my guts - there a few bodies that have been buried during my time as Preb's Secretary and while on the Board.) I firmly believe in a lot of ACT policy, but accept that the vast majority of the New Zealand public wouldn't accept such a radical step that would be implementing ACT's manifesto. Better, in my opinion, to edge in that direction over two or three terms. National is the best vehicle to do this.

Sometimes a National MP says something dumb (Like Brian Connell does every time he opens his mouth) but for everything they disagree with, there are five things I do agree with. The other advantage is that being on the inside you have access to these people - you can tell them what they said is wrong.