Ranking rankles National’s 'rebel without a cause'

National MP Brian Connell has accused his leader of "slapping" him around by failing to give him better portfolios and rank him higher in the party's new line-up.

The Rakaia MP's comments in a newspaper column and article are bound to bring him on to collision course with the party leadership, who already regard him as an untalented renegade.

Before the election the low-profile MP was unranked and had commerce, forestry and associate revenue portfolios.

In last week's reshuffle he was ranked 27th out of 48 MPs; everyone below him was unranked. He retained forestry and commerce, and got two minor portfolios.

In an Ashburton Guardian article last Thursday, Mr Connell said: "I would have liked bigger portfolios and a higher ranking based on my ability, rather than the leader slapping me around because I'm outspoken."

Then in an Ashburton community newspaper column on Tuesday, he revealed he was told he was ranked at the bottom because he was "too outspoken".

He said being called too outspoken was "a big rat to swallow, especially with the announcement of a PC eradication portfolio".

"I find it ironic that an MP who is anything but PC, and who speaks his mind in the caucus and publicly, should be punished for doing exactly what Dr Brash is railing against."

He said he served the electorate rather than blindly follow the party line.

"That I am a member of the National Party is absolutely irrelevant to me when I conduct my duties, or form a view.

"Sometimes - okay, lots of times - this brings me into conflict with the party bosses in Wellington who think my first loyalty is to them. We shall continue to disagree."

National deputy leader Gerry Brownlee said the comments were just a case of "Brian being Brian" and he refused further comment.

Mr Connell was linked to disquiet within caucus after the election over senior MP Murray McCully's influence on Dr Brash's strategy.

During the election campaign Dr Brash overrode Mr Connell on the party's forestry policy, denying the MP's claims that National would resume logging on the West Coast. At the start of the year Mr Connell openly criticised Dr Brash for the demotion of Katherine Rich over welfare policy.

MP Tim Barnett, Labour's "buddy" MP for Rakaia, said Mr Connell was a "rebel without a cause".

BRIAN CONNELL ON BRIAN CONNELL

"To say I am disappointed by the treatment handed out to me by Don Brash with regard to my caucus ranking is an understatement."

"... to be told I am being ranked at the bottom because I am too outspoken is a big rat to swallow ..."

"My route has been to serve the electorate and not blindly follow the 'party line'."

Ashburton's The Courier, November 1

"I would have liked bigger portfolios and a higher ranking based on my ability, rather than the leader slapping me around because I'm outspoken."

Ashburton Guardian, October 27