frogblog

While in Parliament, MPs aren’t meant to bitch publicly about their parties and their colleagues. Though John Tamihere didn’t always respect the convention, he is the exception. When sniping within parties does happen, it almost always takes place in off-the-record briefings to journalists as politicians try to get their clique’s version of events into the media without their grubby little fingers being all over it.

However, as soon as an MP is ejected from Parliament, all bets are off. Caucus discipline does not last a lifetime. So, it’s been interesting to see departing MPs deal with their new-found liberty in quite different ways.

Mike suggested the Greens should be in Helen Clark’s next Cabinet. He also says he has artistic plans:

I’ve got some stories to write. I’ve got some lovely stuff to make. I’d love to leave some really big sculpture lying around. [I want to write] some philosophical stuff, some political stuff, some personal stuff and some kids stories.

Act’s Stephen Franks described his inner-turmoil:

I’ve been dumped from the most challenging and worthwhile work I’ve ever done. Being sacked is hard but my sulk formally ends today. Fortunately I cannot afford to wallow in it. My first new legal brief is under action… Rejection pales beside the melancholia of long days tossing out files.

But it is United’s Marc Alexander who is an early leader in the “causing angst for my former party” stakes. He tells the Herald today that United needs to take “a good cold hard look at itself”. He thinks conservative Christians have too much control of the party:

Why was it our real talent was pushed back rather than pushed forward, and I think a lot of that had to do with the board and who they liked and who they didn’t like… In a nutshell it was putting, in some sense, Christianity over competence.

Further, Alexander said United had become “side-tracked” by social issues - a move he called “obsessive” and “nutty”. With friends like these, Peter Dunne clearly doesn’t need enemies…

I have to say, though, that I have long wondered whether Alexander was in the right party. Perhaps he should be knocking on Rodney Hide’s door, with a view to getting a high place on the Act list in 2008?

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