Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Deputy Prime Minister
23 November 2006 Media Statement
Cullen on National leadership
National will now face choosing its fifth leader in nine years, Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said today.
"This continued instability in the National Party is a sign of a party still nowhere near ready to govern.
"Dr Brash's resignation was inevitable. But it solves little. By all accounts Mr Key, the likely successor, was deeply
involved in all the events that have eventually led to Dr Brash's downfall.
"In particular, we all await with interest Mr Hager's book to see the role Mr Key played with respect to the Exclusive
Brethren. It is also likely to reveal Mr Key's central role in National's hidden policy agenda at the behest of the
Business Roundtable and its associates.
"And if the bizarre rumour is true that Dr Brash and Mr Key are swapping jobs then it will be even clearer that nothing
has really changed.
"The Labour Party relishes the prospect of having nearly two years to highlight Mr Key's inadequacies. We look forward
to the next leader and the one after that," Dr Cullen said.
ENDS