Key: I would work with Brash

Don Brash, former National Party leader. Photo / Herald on Sunday.

Prime Minister John Key has confirmed he will work with what voters deliver in the November general election, as the man he deposed as National leader gathers momentum to relaunch his political career.

Don Brash has confirmed he will make a bid for the Act Party leadership.

He is expected to deliver a clear message to its board on Saturday: if his offer of leadership is rejected, his new party will potentially bleed Act dry of any votes it has left.

Mr Key did not rule out working with Dr Brash in an interview with Newstalk ZB this morning.

But he said speculation about how National would work with any new political movement is premature.

"I think we're a number of steps ahead of ourselves.

"At the end of the day we as a political party will work with what the electorate delivers."

He said National had a good working relationship with Act under the leadership of Rodney Hide.

Dr Brash has commissioned a nationwide poll to gauge the level of support for him as leader of Act versus Act under incumbent leader Rodney Hide.

He expects the results next week, after the Act board meeting.

"I'd like to say to the board that, under my leadership, I believe Act has a much better prospect of not only getting back into Parliament but having a significant number of MPs."

He will also point out that a new party, which he will set up if his bid to roll Mr Hide fails, could seal Act's fate by taking a bite out of its voting base.

When asked if that could be seen as a threat, Dr Brash said: "I don't want to put it in that way but I am deeply concerned about where the country is and if I can't make a contribution in the Act Party, I'll find some alternative way of doing so."

His preferred approach would be as leader of Act, he said.

"The party's already established, it has a constitution, a membership ... It's got all those things that are easier to take over than to try and create from scratch. I don't doubt I could do it but it would just be much more convenient to assume the leadership of Act."

If successful, Dr Brash wants former Auckland City mayor John Banks to stand in Epsom, which Mr Hide currently holds.

Mr Banks has not ruled that out. He said Epsom and Mr Hide had "parted company". But when asked if he would like to represent Epsom one day, he sidestepped the question saying: "They're a great bunch, the people of Epsom."

Mr Hide has said Dr Brash's bid is a takeover attempt by a member of a different party.

Confident of keeping his leadership, he said if Dr Brash wanted to become leader, he would have to follow the process and first become a member of the party.

Right-wing political commentator Matthew Hooton does not expect Act to take up Dr Brash's offer - even though he believes it is the party's only chance of survival.

"Act is a cult of Rodney Hide acolytes," he said. "I think they'd all prefer to commit political suicide than take this opportunity. And if they don't take it, the new [Brash-led party] will be more successful than Act."

According to the party constitution, the caucus can recommend a new leader by majority.

The board must accept the caucus' choice unless at least eight board members vote to overturn it.

Dr Brash needs three votes from the caucus and the support of at least five board members to block a vote of eight or more against the caucus recommendation.

There are normally 13 board members but the Waikato/Bay of Plenty seat is vacant.