MPs want Boag out in a hurry

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

National Party president Michelle Boag could step down within six weeks.

A motion of no-confidence in her at today's National caucus meeting was averted yesterday when leader Bill English publicly welcomed her decision not to seek re-election.

But there are expectations among MPs that she will go after the review of the election campaign in six weeks - and possibly earlier if the bloodlust does not wane.

Former MP Wyatt Creech is being mentioned as a possible interim president until the conference next year.

Welcoming Ms Boag's announcement that she was "highly unlikely" to seek re-election, Mr English said: "The right decision has been made today.

"That is going to put to bed the potential for some infighting that could have gone on for a long time.

"The president has done her own performance review and has decided today not to run again."

Asked if he had confidence in her staying for another 12 months, until the next conference, Mr English said: "I support her continuing to oversee the campaign review and get some conclusions out of it.

"She has my confidence to do the president's job that is required right now, which is to stick in there when it's tough, to show the party that there is leadership on the job, to show we understand the ramifications of the defeat."

Moves had been afoot yesterday for a no-confidence motion by MPs who blame her for the devastating election result on Saturday - though it would have been symbolic. The party conference, not the caucus, elects the president.

Today's caucus meeting is expected to be emotional as 10 defeated MPs are farewelled.

Ms Boag was not planning to attend the caucus, but will be in Wellington for a post-election meeting with the party's regional chairmen and women to finalise decisions on the review.

Asked if she might resign after the review, Ms Boag said: "I am not going to pre-empt anything. We don't even know the shape of the review."

She would not comment on what she would do if regional leaders asked her to step down.

Mr English warned against putting too much emphasis on the review. "Politicians who get 21 per cent know what went wrong.

"The review is an opportunity for the activists to have their say but it is not going to tell us too many things we don't already know."

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