By Tony Reid
Former Auckland mayor John Banks announced his return to politics today as the new ACT Party candidate for Epsom. Banks replaces Rodney Hide, who was rolled as leader by Don Brash last month, and if he makes it to Parliament, Banks says he wants a seat in the cabinet.
John Banks stepped back into politics today as a signed up member of the Act Party, announcing an end to the Rodney Hide era of yellow jackets and dance moves.
“I won't be, if you don't mind me saying, I won't be dancing with the stars,” he says.
Banks has kept a low profile since losing to Len Brown in last year's Auckand mayoral race.
But when offered Epsom, he couldn't say no to a party fighting for its survival.
“There's a lot of hard work to be done by ACT candidates up and down the country. to demonstrate their mettle, to sell their policies, to show they can make a difference,” he says.
“He will win Epsom I'm confident, with the hard work he's going to put in but in addition, John Banks is very popular around the country,” says Brash.
National gave ACT a leg up in Epsom at the last election, focussing more on the party vote than the seat. So will it do the same with Banks at the November election?
“Historically that's been the position we've adopted in Epsom, we're yet to have those discussions with Don Brash and the ACT Party and we'll have those in due course,” says Banks.
He says he welcomes all challengers to take him on, on what is his home turf.
“I'm out there, and I've got to work for every vote, and Winston and the others can step up to the plate as well,” he says.
This will be Banks’ 14th election. He first went to Parliament in 1981 and he wants to be back where it counts.
“If given the opportunity I would be putting my case on merit for a place in the cabinet,” he says.
ACT has a 12,000 vote majority in Epsom which means John Banks looks set to become its new MP, Don Brash must get the party vote higher though, or some of his five MPs will lose their jobs.
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