Zip it or face the boot, Williamson warned

By AUDREY YOUNG

Dissident National MP Maurice Williamson is believed to have received a final warning from leader Bill English and president Judy Kirk about bagging his party in public.

The Pakuranga MP met the party leadership at Parliament on Tuesday morning before caucus.

Options for his future were outlined if he continues the attacks. The ultimate was expulsion.

That can be achieved under the party-hopping Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act. A letter from a party leader to the Speaker backed by two-thirds of a caucus can force an MP's resignation and a byelection.

The party is thought to have sought legal advice.

Mr Williamson last week made his first speech in Parliament since the election. He lamented the state of his party, criticised former president Michelle Boag and mocked the "Southern Man" Speights TV ad - an image with which Mr English, a Southlander, has been identified.

Mr English told the caucus he had a discussion with Mr Williamson, but did not elaborate.

Mr Williamson attended caucus.

He was demoted to National's lowest-ranked MP, No 27, because of his public criticism of Ms Boag.

"A resignation from her would lance a very big boil and let us get on with the job of what we've got to do," he had said.

After just a year in the job, Ms Boag resigned on August 30, the night before the party's internal election review was handed over.

Mr Williamson confirmed this week that he had still not accepted the spokesman roles offered to him: statistics, information technology and communications.

He could not be reached yesterday and Mr English refused to comment.

Ms Boag said yesterday that she was having "the first unemployed fortnight of my life and I love it".

"I have no career plans at this stage."