Snub gives MP new home focus

Chester Borrows PHOTO/FILE

Politics can be a cruel beast. Just ask Whanganui MP Chester Borrows.

While the likeable National Party MP has never been one to wear his heart on his sleeve, the snub delivered by his leader in overlooking him for a Cabinet post must have hurt.

In previous interviews with this newspaper, Mr Borrows has acknowledged his ambitions were to get his feet under the Cabinet table. Indeed, his worth was recognised by John Key when he was given positions outside Cabinet, as Minister of Courts and Associate Minister of both Justice and Social Development.

What our MP, and others, did not see was a pending changing of the guard. The front benches have been filled with incumbents and newbies, and all generally younger than the 57-year-old former policeman turned lawyer. Call it succession planning as Mr Key looks to strengthen his leadership team with a gaggle of young guns.

Now the air has cleared post- election Mr Borrows has had time to reflect on the decisions his boss has made and with typical pragmatism just get on with it as the nominee for Deputy Speaker.

The fact this new roll means a pay cut will probably not bother him either. He will give the new role his best shot.

The upside for our electorate is that without any of those ministerial responsibilities our MP won't become a sort of accidental visitor, turning up very rarely because work commitments tie him to Wellington. It certainly gives him more time to devote to electorate issues, and answer the clamour of his opponents that he never spent enough time here anyway, even if that claim is moot.

So therein lies Mr Borrows' challenge. He cannot let the disappointment with a demotion stand in the way of work he can do to better his electorate. He has the voters' mandate so now he can focus on delivering on that expectation.