Prime Minister John Key is refusing to speculate who would be in line to pick up a ministerial portfolio if Act deputy leader Heather Roy is demoted within the party, but again ruled out working with Sir Roger Douglas.Act MPs were meeting now for their we
Prime Minister John Key is refusing to speculate who would be in line to pick up a ministerial portfolio if Act deputy leader Heather Roy is demoted within the party, but again ruled out working with Sir Roger Douglas.
Act MPs were meeting now for their weekly caucus meeting. It was expected Mrs Roy would be kicked out of the deputy leader role.
If dumped, Mrs Roy would be set to lose her ministerial portfolios -- she holds consumer affairs and associate defence and education -- in the National-led government.
Act MPs were tight-lipped on their way into the meeting but NZPA understands Mrs Roy was likely to be ousted after she tried to rally opinion against leader Rodney Hide again.
Mrs Roy and fellow MP Sir Roger tried to remove Mr Hide late last year.
Mr Hide is also a minister in the National-led government.
A former Act MP told NZPA the split was "very sad." The party was tearing itself apart, he said.
Mr Key has said he would not have Sir Roger as a minister, he repeated that today.
"If there was a change in deputy leadership then I would anticipate having a conversation with the Act leader about that -- Mr Hide."
Mr Key said "right at the moment" Mrs Roy had his confidence as a minister.
"I've ruled Roger Douglas out and I intend to honour that."
He said Sir Roger was making a constructive contribution to Parliament, but "I think his agenda -- as I said before the election -- is a far right wing agenda and that just doesn't sit well with a centre-right government."
Mr Key said constitutionally it was his responsibility as to who entered the fold as a new minister but such decisions would not be made until he had talked with Mr Hide.
With Sir Roger ruled out, that leaves John Boscawen and David Garrett in the running to become the party's deputy leader and some responsibilities as a minister outside Cabinet.
Act has only five MPs, and would not be in Parliament but for Mr Hide winning the Epsom electorate in the 2008 election -- the party won only 3.65% of the vote, below the 5% threshold required to win seats in Parliament without an electorate.
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