By James Murray
Ex-National leader Don Brash may be a step closer to becoming ACT Party leader as Rodney Hide comes under increased pressure to resign today.
3 News understands that Brash insiders, as of this lunchtime, are in the process of convincing Hide-supporter John Boscawen to change allegiance, meaning that Mr Hide would no longer hold majority support in the party.
Before today the party had been evenly split, with Heather Roy and Roger Douglas firmly against Mr Hide and Mr Boscawen and Hilary Calvert supporters.
Dr Brash has convened an ACT caucus meeting in Auckland at 2pm, meaning a decision on the future leadership of the party could be decided this afternoon.
3 News are outside the meeting at Dr Brash's apartment and can confirm that Hilary Calvert and Sir Roger Douglas have just turned up.
Ms Calvert refused to comment but Sir Douglas said he was an old friend of Dr Brash's and had been asked to attend personally - hence him being there.
If the caucus does approve Dr Brash as leader, the final decision will go to the board.
However, Mr Hide, speaking from the offices of Sir Roger Douglas and John Boscawen, has told 3 News he has no plans to resign, saying Dr Brash still isn't a member of the party. He is reported in the National Business Review as saying he knows nothing about the caucus meeting.
Hide hits back on Facebook
Mr Hide earlier sent an open letter to his supporters on his Facebook page criticising Dr Brash's bid and a letter the ex-National leader had sent him, which he said was "one-sided" and designed to be leaked.
In the Facebook message the ACT leader said discussions about Dr Brash entering the party had occurred earlier in the year but come to a standstill.
"Don and I had a series of meetings during which time a number of
ideas were floated on how the party could best leverage Don's strengths," he said.
"Don's initial position was that he would join only as leader, with
John Banks as Act's candidate in Epsom. I suggested John Banks was not
an ACT person but that clearly Don was."
According to Hide the proposal was discussed with party president Chris Simmons, vice-president Bruce Haycock and deputy leader John Boscawen.
"We were agreed that the first step for Don was to join the party. I
met with Don, asking him to join and said I would pay his membership
fee! He refused."
According to the New Zealand Herald, Dr Brash said Mr Hide proposed a co-leadership role and the chance to run in Epsom. The initial meeting was said to take place in a Burger King, before moving to a private home. During this meeting Dr Brash claims Mr Hide offered to stand aside in Epsom if polling showed Dr Brash was more likely to win the seat.
Mr Hide and Mr Simmons have denied this was the case and say only the co-leadership was discussed.
ACT members get behind Brash
Meanwhile ACT Party members seem to be supporting Brash's bid and are writing to the board to signal their support.
The party's Treasurer, Hamish Stevens, said members had been writing to support Dr Brash
since he showed his hand on Saturday but declined to comment when asked if people were writing in support of Mr Hide.
Brash's bold bid
Mr Brash made a bid for the ACT leadership over the Easter weekend saying that if he didn’t succeed he would form a new political party.
With rumours flying that Mr Brash would pit popular ex-Auckland mayor John Banks against Mr Hide in Epsom, and the ACT Party polling at around two percent (well below the five percent threshold), Mr Brash said the far-right party could disappear without him.
"I think there's a measure of interest in what I am talking about because they recognise at the moment ACT very well faces oblivion at this year's election," he told Radio New Zealand.
"I think there's a recognition both among the caucus and the wider public that I have the potential to lift the party well above the 5 percent threshold."
President not keen on Brash
ACT Party president Chris Simmons downplayed Mr Brash’s chances yesterday.
"It will not be happening this Saturday," he told Radio New Zealand, citing party processes as a stumbling block to Mr Brash’s coup.
Then in an interview with 3 News, Mr Simmons made it very clear he did not support Mr Brash as a potential new leader.
“[He is] an old man that has been passed over by the National Party previously, has not had his words heard on the 2025 taskforce by the Prime Minister. He’s angry, he’s grumpy and this is his attempt to try and destabilise us.”
Mr Hide was meeting with four others at the office of John Boscawen and Sir Roger Douglas today and was initially unavailable for comment.
One of the people in the meeting said Mr Boscawen was currently in Wellington.
3 News