Banished MP 'in shock' but unbowed [+audio]

Brian Connell walks through Christchurch Airport yesterday after being suspended by the National Party. Picture / Simon Baker

Rebel MP Brian Connell refuses to rule out resigning as an MP and triggering a byelection after being suspended from the National Party caucus.

It appears National leader Don Brash would not be unhappy if the MP took that step.

Asked if Mr Connell should resign his seat in the National stronghold of Rakaia, Dr Brash said: "I don't want to imply that's the only option but ... it would not be easy for him to come back from where he is now.

"The door is not completely shut."

The National caucus voted by secret ballot to suspend the MP after what Dr Brash described as a "pattern of destructive behaviour".

It followed a formal expression of no confidence in the MP by the party board last Thursday, which effectively required caucus to take some action.

Neither step would have been taken without the support of Dr Brash.

Two weeks ago Mr Connell confronted Dr Brash in caucus about allegations he was having an affair, claiming if it were true he was no longer fit to lead the party.

Mr Connell maintains he never leaked the details to the media. Like other MPs, he did comment after the confrontation became public.

Despite his denials, a number of National MPs and board members privately believe Mr Connell was the caucus leak, but they can't prove it.

Dr Brash said the suspension came as a result of behaviour over several years and "the final straw was Mr Connell's public comments after the last caucus about the discussions that took place at that meeting."

Dr Brash denied it was a form of payback for Mr Connell contributing to forcing the alleged affair into the public arena.

He said the suspension would remain in effect "until further notice. Mr Connell's future with the National Party is now in his own hands."

Mr Connell has frequently ruffled National feathers, first criticising the leader - then Bill English - before he had even been elected in 2002.

He has had several clashes with Dr Brash and after criticising senior party strategist Murray McCully after the last election was demoted to become the lowest ranked of the returning MPs.

Mr Connell will be banned from caucus and any official party roles beyond his electorate during the suspension. He can sit in the House and the National whips will still hold his vote unless he opts to withdraw it. Yesterday he was in "absolute shock" and needed 24 hours to digest what had happened and how he would respond.

Pakuranga MP Maurice Williamson was suspended from the caucus and then the party in 2003 after sabotaging Bill English's first annual conference as leader after the 2002 loss.

Sources said yesterday the board hadn't considered suspending or expelling Mr Connell, mindful of the legal battles it faced when it considered expelling Mr Williamson.

Mr Williamson was brought back into the fold after Dr Brash, whom he had long supported, was elected leader - after a formal apology.

Mr Connell said he had the support of some caucus colleagues, but wouldn't say who they were.

He said he did not regret his challenge to Dr Brash two weeks ago and again asserted he had not leaked details of it to the media.

BRIAN CONNELL

* MP Rakaia. Elected 2002. Majority: 10,448
* Married, two children, 50.
* Farmer, former teacher, banker, business executive.