Peters asks Brash to 'retire with dignity'

Winston Peters

Winston Peters invited Don Brash to "retire with dignity" on New Zealand First's promised Golden Age card discount card, after following Dr Brash in the first parliamentary debate of the year yesterday.

The New Zealand First leader said Dr Brash's speech had been an attempt to put the sleeping pill mogadon out of business.

"One thing is very sure - after today Don has to go."

"We can't sort out his leadership problem but we can offer him a palliative option; it's called retirement with dignity."

Dr Brash, aged 65, already qualified, said Mr Peters, 60.

Labour has agreed to the card in principle but the details have yet to be decided.

Mr Peters said that according to the Chinese calendar ... 2006 was the year of the dog.

"But for the National Party in 2006 and for its leader, this is going to be the year of the lame duck."

He also had something to say about the speculation over the National leadership, which he said had been stirred up by its deputy leader Gerry Brownlee.

"They're all up against the dry stone, sharpening knives.

"I know the feeling, I was there once in the National Party. Of course, I never had the ego or the arrogance."

Mr Peters said the rumoured contest was between MPs John Key and Bill English.

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said Mr Peters was Parliament's resident court jester but nowhere in his speech was there anything about the direction of foreign policy.