WikiLeaks cable: Former opposition leader Brash resigns from parliament
November 30, 2006 Former opposition leader Brash resigns from parliament
date:2006-11-30T07:00:00 source:Embassy Wellington origin:06WELLINGTON952 destination:VZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHWL
#0952 3340700 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 300700Z NOV 06 FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3558 INFO
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 4638 classification:CONFIDENTIAL reference:06WELLINGTON923 ?C O N F I D E N T I A L
WELLINGTON 000952
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STATE FOR D (FRITZ), EAP/FO, AND EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2016 TAG... ?C O N F I D E N T I A L WELLINGTON 000952
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STATE FOR D (FRITZ), EAP/FO, AND EAP/ANP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2016 TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NZ SUBJECT: FORMER OPPOSITION
LEADER BRASH RESIGNS FROM PARLIAMENT REF: WELLINGTON 923
Classified By: ACTING DCM KATHERINE B. HADDA, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: Dr. Don Brash has resigned from Parliament, barely a week after he resigned his leadership of the main
opposition National Party. Brash's five years in office, particularly the three as party leader, were characterized by
controversy. As leader he elevated National's status but he had become a political liability. Although Brash appears to
have voluntarily fallen on his sword, it is also likely that that his colleagues pressed him to leave. The timing of his
departure may have been a surprise, however. End Summary.
Brash to leave the political stage in the New Year
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2. (SBU) Seven days after resigning as the leader of the National Party, Brash announced before a press conference today
that he was leaving parliamentary politics for good. Brash, an MP for only five years (three as leader), said he would
stay in office for a few weeks, but would not return to Parliament in the New Year. Brash said that he had
"constructive" meetings with new leader John Key two days ago and again today but had decided to leave. After he
resigned as leader, Brash had said that he would only stay in politics if the new leader gave him a portfolio of
significance to manage. In today's press conference, Brash would not say whether he had sought a specific portfolio from
Key.
3. (SBU) Brash denied that the book by researcher, Nicky Hager, The Hollow Men, which detailed his political links with
the Exclusive Brethren religious movement (reftel), was a factor in his resignation, instead claiming he had decided it
was the right time to leave Parliament. Brash said that he will "be seeking other avenues to contribute to New Zealand's
future." Asked whether this meant he would look at directorships of companies, Brash said yes, although not
directorships of SOEs (State Owned Enterprises) "with this Government". Under New Zealander's proportional
representation system, Brash will be replaced by the next candidate on National's list, Wellington accountant Katrina
Shanks. The number of National's seats in Parliament remain unchanged.
4. (C) Comment: Pundits have been suggesting for days that Key and possibly other members of the party would ease Brash
out of Parliament. Many political observers believed that Brash's continued presence in Parliament would have been
detrimental to the National Party, especially given the fresh start Key is trying to make. But while many predicted his
departure, the timing may have been a surprise. When Brash resigned, Pol-Econ Counselor happened to be speaking with
National Party Foreign Affairs and Defence spokesman Murray McCully at a foreign policy seminar sponsored by the
National Party. National MP Tim Groser told McCully the news, which he said he had "heard from a journalist, so don't
take my word for it." McCully is a consummate Party insider and close confidante of Brash and has been working closely
with Key on the new leader's transition.
5. (C) Although Brash is respected within the party for vastly elevating its popularity after the crushing 2002
election, the regularity of his political gaffes and the ongoing controversies that continued to swirl around him meant
that he had become a liability for the party. His time was effectively up. Brash himself alluded to this in today's
statement when he said that he had consulted colleagues and their advice had been mixed. He revealed that some said,
"you've done a fantastic job for the National Party. You're work on that has finished." The recent weeks have also
clearly been a strain for Brash, as newspaper articles today claimed he had fought back tears while being interviewed in
New Plymouth yesterday.
McCormick
ENDS