Don Brash started the clock ticking on yesterday's resignation announcement on the day of his greatest triumph.
Before National's so-near-and-yet-so-far election performance in 2005, he noted that political parties did not normally continue with leaders who lost elections, "and I ... respect that".
Yesterday he conceded that that
statement had sown the seeds of continuing speculation about his future.
Before election night his prepared speech included a resignation announcement if National lost. However, he followed advice and opted not to go.
Dr Brash said yesterday: "It has become increasingly clear in recent months that there's a growing expectation that I'll step down well ahead of the next election. That ongoing speculation is damaging to the National Party and to our future prospects."
Earlier this year he rode out a series of damaging revelations about his private life, but predictions of his impending demise would not fade away. With the imminent publication of Nicky Hager's book on his leadership, commentators predicted a resignation sooner rather than later.
After news of the book became public this week, Dr Brash staunchly denied he would stand down, but yesterday he revealed he had already decided to go days earlier.
The press conference was planned and, ironically, Hager's book almost saw it cancelled in case it was seen as the catalyst.
"My temptation was to can the decision to step down today, precisely for that reason," Dr Brash said.
A National insider said very few people within the party were aware of Dr Brash's decision, and fewer of his parliamentary colleagues were in the loop. Dr Brash yesterday named East Coast Bays MP and close adviser Murray McCully as one of the few who knew what was coming.
Dr Brash met individually with his front bench MPs yesterday, and also called a caucus meeting before his announcement. He said several MPs had expressed genuine disappointment.
No one had come to him to say they had the numbers to roll him, but media speculation that a coup was about to happen was ultimately too destabilising.
