English concedes, Williamson says Boag must go

By STAFF REPORTERS

10.55pm UPDATE - The National Party, the country's major party of government for the last 50 years, now faces urgent rebuilding if it is not to tear itself apart after crashing to its lowest poll rating ever.

With just 21 per cent of the vote, well below the 30 per cent it suffered in its loss to Labour in 1999, the party will have just 27 seats in Parliament -- 12 fewer than its current 39.

It is by far the worst result for the party, once regarded as the natural party of government having ruled for 36 years since 1945.

Already at least one MP has launched a blistering attack on the hierarchy.

National Party leader Bill English conceded defeat, saying the party was facing the "cold hard steel" of the electorate. Mr English told party supporters in Gore that the campaign had been a test of character. He said he had telephoned Labour leader Helen Clark and wished her well. There was a high likelihood of a centre-left government and Helen Clark would now try to form a government.

Later, Mr English broke down in tears after a round of media interviews and was taken away by his advisors.

But even as Mr English was conceding defeat and calling for a rebuilding of the party, one of his MPs was calling for the head of party president Michelle Boag.

Maurice Williamson, the MP for Pakuranga, launched a blistering attack.

"What she has done is clear.

"She has wrecked the party. She has taken us to party numbers not even close to where we have been before in the worst times."

He said people had phoned him saying they would never vote for the party as long as "that woman" was president.

"Bill was left naked, unsupported by the president and the party hierarchy."

But Ms Boag, who gained the presidency promising a new broom for the party, said the party had been written off at the beginning and this had turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It was sad the party had lost so many good people, she said.

Asked if she had to take responsibility for the historic defeat, she said she had just been unanimously elected president for another 12 months.

A number of list candidates that Ms Boag tried to use to modernise the party will not now make it to Parliament. They include Rangitoto College principal Allan Peachey, former party president Sue Wood and conservationist Guy Salmon. However, former Reserve Bank governor Don Brash will go to Wellington due to his fifth place on the party list.

Full election coverage

Graphic: Seats in the 47th Parliament

Full election results