A slip of tongue shatters the show

A slip of the tongue at an impromptu press conference was the only lapse in Katherine Rich's composure on the day she lost her welfare portfolio and spot on the front bench.

Asked if there was any question over her commitment to the National Party, Mrs Rich said she had "absolutely no commitment".

When questioned further, the National MP said she had, of course, meant to say there was "absolutely no question" about her commitment.

Earlier, Mrs Rich had sat at the back of the room, with fellow MP Lynda Scott, watching as National leader Don Brash announced some "minor fine-tuning" to the party's shadow Cabinet line-up - a major understatement since he was demoting one of his favourite MPs.

As Dr Brash read out the changes that relegated Mrs Rich from number four to number 10 in the party's line-up, she stayed quiet, a bystander at a press conference about her.

Halfway through, as Dr Brash explained how she had not agreed with some "detail" in his Orewa speech, she and Mrs Scott left the conference.

Mrs Rich issued a statement saying she would not comment further.

Only she did, but wanted no National Party audience.

The Dunedin MP asked the two National Party press secretaries to leave, then she shut the door and tried to explain what had happened.

She attempted enthusiasm about her new roles as associate finance, associate health and ACC spokeswoman, but it was the questions that Mrs Rich didn't answer that said more about the turmoil behind the sacking.

She would not say whether she had resigned or been pushed, if an all-male front bench was an issue, who had advised Dr Brash on the welfare policy in his Orewa speech or whether he was an autocratic leader.

Despite the odd muddled word and occasional 10-second pause, Mrs Rich remained collected.

Instead it was Mrs Scott who appeared more emotional.

Herself demoted from the front bench when Dr Brash became leader and who will retire at the end of the term, Mrs Scott said Mrs Rich was one of the hardest-working and most talented National MPs and did not deserve the demotion.

Mrs Rich was seen as one of the brightest stars in National and was the only woman on the front bench.

Under Bill English's leadership she was appointed social services spokeswoman and rose to No 11.

She backed Dr Brash in the leadership scrap of 2003, and was promoted to the front bench and the No 4 spot when he became leader.

During Parliament's first sitting yesterday, Mrs Rich held her poise.

At the end of Dr Brash's speech she and Mrs Scott rose for the obligatory ovation.

It was New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' speech that brought a smile to Mrs Rich.

"Apparently," Mr Peters said, "the new dictum in the National Party is that if women disagree with the leader they are gone by lunchtime."

Katherine Rich



* Age 37, B Com, BA.

* Married, two children, two stepchildren.

* Elected 1999.