Connell's suspension an ominous sign for Brash

26 September 2006

Connell's suspension an ominous sign for Brash

Don Brash's suspension of Rakaia MP Brian Connell is a misdirected move to silence his critics and is yet another sign that Brash's days as leader are numbered, Labour strategist Pete Hodgson said.

Pete Hodgson said the move to silence Connell had striking and ominous similarities to Bill English's suspension of Maurice Williamson weeks before he was rolled by Brash.

"Don Brash is a lame duck leader," Pete Hodgson said. "Brash's suspension of Connell is intended to make him look tough, but in reality it's an act of weakness.

"Suspending Brian Connell will not stop the flood of off-the-record – or on-the-record in John Key's case – talk from his senior colleagues about an imminent coup.

"Brash should know better than anyone that these tactics won't secure his position. Bill English's suspension of Maurice Williamson for criticising his leadership was followed within weeks by the coup that installed Brash.

"Brash's justification for the suspension is a white wash. No one actually believes that even if Connell did leak details of the caucus meeting that he acted alone. As many as three separate MPs are thought to have leaked the details to multiple media sources.

"Don Brash needs to come to grips with the fact that Brian Connell is the least of his worries. National front benchers who want him gone won't be deterred by a laughable display of toughness from a lame duck leader."

ENDS