Ever open to an opportunity, ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas is using Prime Minister John Key's rejection of him as a marketing point.As ACT deals with the fallout of David Garrett resigning from caucus over his theft of a dead child's identity, questions are be
Ever open to an opportunity, ACT MP Sir Roger Douglas is using Prime Minister John Key's rejection of him as a marketing point.
As ACT deals with the fallout of David Garrett resigning from caucus over his theft of a dead child's identity, questions are being asked about Rodney Hide's leadership of the party.
Mr Key is backing Mr Hide but said if he was rolled he could work with whomever the party selected as leader - except Sir Roger.
"If they appointed Roger Douglas as the leader because I've made it quite clear I don't want Roger Douglas as a minister in my Cabinet".
Mr Key has consistently ruled out Sir Roger - whose far right views are considered extreme - being a minister in his Government since National signed ACT up as its support partner.
Sir Roger has embraced the rejection and issued bright yellow flyers today on which is emblazoned a newspaper headline: "Anyone except Douglas, says Key".
The flyer asks who is "really ambitious" for New Zealand and criticises Mr Key for not being market-focused enough. It features a smiling Sir Roger and a picture of a man with his head in the sand which is captioned "John Key, looking to catch Australia".
Sir Roger was a Labour Cabinet minister and is renowned for Rogernomics in the 1980s which saw radical economic restructuring.
He founded the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers, now just called ACT, in 1993 with Derek Quigley before returning to Parliament as an ACT MP in 2008.
