Connell says sorry to Brash, but reluctantly

Recalcitrant National MP Brian Connell avoided suspension from his caucus yesterday after apologising for defying leader Don Brash, but the truce appears fragile.

Dr Brash repeatedly refused to express confidence in the MP after the meeting, despite saying the apology had cleared the air.

Before the caucus Mr Connell told some MPs he would not apologise for his public criticisms, which centred around disappointment over the portfolios and low ranking Dr Brash had given him.

Dr Brash stripped him of the portfolios and ranking after saying Mr Connell refused to then come to Auckland to discuss the matter with him.

One source said the caucus had spent some time yesterday pressuring Mr Connell into making the apology, but another denied this.

National staffers at first said Mr Connell and Dr Brash would hold a joint press conference after the caucus, but Mr Connell slipped out.

Staff said he was attending the New Zealand Trotting Cup in Christchurch for which he had sought leave some time ago.

He did not return calls yesterday.

Dr Brash later released a statement saying the MP had apologised. But it was a clearly reluctant "apology".

Rather than apologising directly for the comments he had made, he apologised for "comments made over recent weeks which have been seen as critical of the leader and the party".

"Mr Connell deeply regrets the way his comments were interpreted."

In a further, possibly cryptically worded, statement, Dr Brash said "both he and the caucus have accepted the apology in the spirit in which it was given".

He was unwilling to elaborate, but refused to express confidence in the MP at least three times.

Asked if the party's board would take further disciplinary action when it met next week, he said: "As far as the caucus is concerned, as far as I'm concerned it's the end of the matter. It's up to the board to decide if they want to take the matter further."

The board could suspend the MP from the party or give him a final warning.

President Judy Kirk did not respond to a query asking if the board would consider the matter further.

Dr Brash reallocated Mr Connell's portfolios late yesterday.

Pansy Wong picks up commerce, Shane Ardern gains forestry and loses fisheries, Phil Heatley regains fisheries, Chris Tremain gains statistics and Kate Wilkinson pick ups consumer affairs.