By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter
Bill English, next in line to National's throne, paid tribute to Jenny Shipley's leadership yesterday, telling the party conference in Christchurch that she could take credit for the absence of blood-letting after the election defeat.
But in a speech titled Aspirations and Opportunity, he warned that peace in the party would not last,
Mr English concluded by warning of "tensions of change in our own organisation," but later told the Herald he had been referring to tension over divisive policy debates yet to be had, not tensions over the leadership.
"By historical standards, this is a pretty cohesive Opposition at this stage.
"The transition from Government to Opposition has been handled pretty well. We haven't put too much pressure on ourselves to resolve all the divisive issues straight away."
Mr English, the finance spokesman, was the key speaker yesterday in the party's first conference since losing power.
"It is a tribute particularly to our leader that we are in Opposition and we are not fighting. That's what's always happened," he said, referring to National and Labour's election defeats in 1984 and 1990.
"On the other hand, we must have a sense of urgency - it's only 16 months till election year. Those same people who say to you, 'Get on with it; get things back on track,' will punish us at the ballot box if we do not rise to the challenge."
Mr English said later he had wanted to suggest to delegates that the party might feel comfortable at present but there were big differences on issues such as tax, student loans and regional development.
He challenged the party to change its thinking about its supporter base, saying it could stand for low-skilled and low-paid workers such as waiters, vine-pruners and checkout operators whom he claimed Labour was letting down with the Employment Relations Act's emphasis on higher-paid, fulltime jobs.
"Let's reach out to them. They think we stand for people who have succeeded. You and I can show them we stand for aspiration."
Mr English's speech was well-received but there was no sense among delegates that Mrs Shipley's leadership was under threat or that it should be, despite defeat and her recent heart problems.
Richard Flint, of Coromandel, said: "After the defeat and her health position, an element of doubt may have been introduced into people's minds. Even in my mind I wondered if she would stand next election, but she will.
"Mr English has the criteria necessary to become leader but he will have to wait his turn."
Paul Sherriff, of Auckland Central, said: "I don't think there is any will for blood-letting at the moment. They're still trying to get to grips with being an effective Opposition and learning what that takes."
English praises Shipley for post-election party peace
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