Heather Roy was ousted as the ACT party’s deputy leader during a crisis meeting in New Zealand yesterday. She has also lost her ministerial portfolios including Minister of Consumer Affairs.
John Boscawen was confirmed as the new deputy leader and Minister of Consumer Affairs. So far Mrs. Roy has not commented on the situation.
ACT has five MPs and is only in Parliament due to party leader Rodney Hide winning the Epsom electorate in the 2008 election.
According to Radio New Zealand, Mr. Hide refused to talk about why Mrs. Roy was demoted, when questioned at a Parliament news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m not prepared to comment on any issues, they were all well canvassed in the caucus and that’s where it remains,” Mr. Hide said.
The New Zealand Herald reported that relations between Mr. Hide and his former deputy were so bad that she complained of a security breach when he removed paperwork relating to her defence portfolio from her office.
Various media noted that Mrs. Roy and fellow MP Sir Roger Douglas unsuccessfully challenged Mr. Hide’s leadership last year, suggesting the party is split into factions.
According to National Business Review, Mr. Hide said his leadership was not challenged on this occasion, and the issue solely concerned the former deputy leader.
Mrs. Roy is now on two weeks enforced leave while she contemplates her political future.
John Boscawen was confirmed as the new deputy leader and Minister of Consumer Affairs. So far Mrs. Roy has not commented on the situation.
ACT has five MPs and is only in Parliament due to party leader Rodney Hide winning the Epsom electorate in the 2008 election.
According to Radio New Zealand, Mr. Hide refused to talk about why Mrs. Roy was demoted, when questioned at a Parliament news conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“I’m not prepared to comment on any issues, they were all well canvassed in the caucus and that’s where it remains,” Mr. Hide said.
The New Zealand Herald reported that relations between Mr. Hide and his former deputy were so bad that she complained of a security breach when he removed paperwork relating to her defence portfolio from her office.
Various media noted that Mrs. Roy and fellow MP Sir Roger Douglas unsuccessfully challenged Mr. Hide’s leadership last year, suggesting the party is split into factions.
According to National Business Review, Mr. Hide said his leadership was not challenged on this occasion, and the issue solely concerned the former deputy leader.
Mrs. Roy is now on two weeks enforced leave while she contemplates her political future.
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