MPs put skids under Brash

Don Brash, touring around DressSmart shopping mall in Onehunga, Friday morning. Picture / Martin Sykes

National MPs are discussing new leadership teams, despite Don Brash's declaration yesterday that he wants to continue leading the party.

A senior MP told the Herald yesterday that the two most likely combinations were finance spokesman John Key as leader and present deputy Gerry Brownlee, or former leader Bill English as leader and corrections spokesman Simon Power as deputy.

Formal discussions had not started, but now appeared inevitable, the source said.

The four MPs are all believed to have leadership ambitions, but Mr Power is not thought to have any chance of taking the top job.

The Otago Daily Times yesterday described Mr Key, from Auckland, and Dunedin MP Katherine Rich as "the dream team". The pair appeared together in Dunedin yesterday.

After going to ground for two days after news of an extramarital affair broke on Wednesday, Dr Brash yesterday declared his intention to continue leading the party.

"Subject as always to the wishes of the caucus, it is my firm intention to continue leading the National Party," he said in Auckland.

"I'm back on the campaign trail and I'm not going to be diverted from the issues."

National MPs have publicly supported Dr Brash, but some believe he will eventually be pressured to resign.

They are dismayed that, just as National had the Government on the ropes over the Taito Phillip Field affair and its election spending, Dr Brash has again embarrassed it.

Potentially further weakening Dr Brash's tenuous grip on his job are rumours - from inside and outside National - of further damaging revelations about him yet to be revealed, although these could be part of a destabilisation campaign.

Some MPs believe he can ride out revelations of the affair, but a growing number believe it dents what is considered to be his primary selling point - his honesty and integrity.

That did not stop Dr Brash saying yesterday he intended to hammer Labour on those same qualities in relation to the Auditor-General's report on last year's election spending.

"We will be talking about their integrity and their honesty and their stealing taxpayers' funds, and we will not be deterred from that by any attempt by Labour to divert our attention," he said at the Sandringham fleamarket, on the first of three visits yesterday.

Asked if his personal life had become an issue for his political leadership, he said: "That is a question for the caucus to make a judgment on. At the moment, the caucus is comfortable with my leadership, and I am intending to lead the National Party as long as I continue to enjoy that support."

He said he could separate his private life and his public life "in exactly the same way as everyone else does".

"I am not talking about my personal life under any circumstances."

MPs who remain loyal to Dr Brash yesterday pointed to talkback radio, which they said heavily supported him keeping his job.

A TVNZ snap poll asked "Should Don Brash go?" and the response was also overwhelmingly in his favour - 70 per cent said he should stay, 23 per cent wanted him to go and the rest didn't know.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday she was looking forward to hearing Dr Brash's first question in the House about integrity.

Dr Brash refused to answer most questions yesterday about his relationship with businesswoman Diane Foreman, but said he did believe his marriage was salvageable.

Asked if people could trust him, he said: "I have never misled the New Zealand public, but I do not intend to comment on my personal life."

Dr Brash has been married to his second wife, Je Lan, for 17 years and they have a teenage son.

Dr Brash told his caucus this week he was having difficulties at home, and was then confronted by MP Brian Connell who said he was unfit to lead the party if he was lying to his wife.

Labour MPs Trevor Mallard and David Benson-Pope alluded in Parliament to an affair, and Mr Mallard threatened to disclose private matters about MPs if National continued to call Labour corrupt.

Dr Brash said: "I think most people accept that this is exactly what they have tried to do. The Government did corruptly spend taxpayers' money last year on the election ... Labour is trying any trying any diversionary tactic to try to divert attention from that."

Parliament is in recess for three weeks.

Dr Brash was met by about 25 journalists yesterday when he arrived at the fleamarket as part of a tour of the area with list MP Jackie Blue. MPs Maurice Williamson, Wayne Mapp and Judith Collins also joined him.

Dr Brash will talk to a Young Nationals conference in Ellerslie today. He will visit Palmerston North on Monday and Hawkes Bay on Tuesday.