Ex-National Party MP jumps to Act
"Bob the Builder" switches parties.
Former National Party MP Bob Clarkson is throwing his weight behind the ACT Party after growing disillusioned with National.
Mr Clarkson, known as "Bob the Builder" while in Parliament representing Tauranga from 2005-08, told the Bay of Plenty Times he would resign from National and join ACT in the next week.
Several other National members in Tauranga were also understood to be considering the switch, including former Kaimai electorate chair Lloyd Christie.
Mr Clarkson said he had been a National member for about 40 years, but the party that kept the country on track financially and maintained living standards would be the one that got his vote.
"It stuns me that the Government is not dealing with the debt and public sector spending," he said.
Former National leader Don Brash taking on the ACT leadership had been like "a bolt out of the blue", he said.
"Now we want him to get rid of the debt, by forcing the Government to be more aggressive in dealing with the issues."
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges said there was not a flight from National in the electorate but "quite the reverse", with local party membership tripling since he entered Parliament in 2008.
NZPA
Thu, 02 Jun 2011
Thu, 02 Jun 2011
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Ex-National Party MP jumps to Act
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