Brash takes blame for leadership speculation

National Party leader Don Brash admits he is partly to blame for speculation about his future as leader, but says he is now determined to keep his job and his MPs back him as well.

National's 48 MPs gather in Taupo tomorrow for a three-day planning retreat to look at policies as well as thinking of ways to weaken Labour's hold on Government.

Last week saw more speculation that some in National wanted to remove Dr Brash and his deputy Gerry Brownlee and Dr Brash said he was partly responsible for the lingering talk.

"The reality in one sense is that I created the story myself by saying pre-election if I didn't form a Government I would expect to stand down," he said.

Now he and others realised that the last election had been National's best result since 1990 and Dr Brash said he was determined to stay on.

"I have no plans to step aside and there is no mood in the caucus to have me step aside."

Dr Brash said the meeting at the Wairakei Resort would review the election result in which National massively increased its support, but fell short of being able to form the Government.

"It will be very much about looking where we are now and where we want to get to."

Dr Brash said it was also time to have a fresh look at all the party's policies.

"It will be partly about looking to see whether there are any policies we have to modify or adjust in the light of events," Dr Brash said.

One of those to be looked at will be the pledge to settle all Treaty of Waitangi claims by 2010 and general Maori policy.

Dr Brash said National remained committed to a "tight" settlement deadline and was against "separate race-based development", but acknowledged goodwill was required on both sides.

National would also look at areas to hold the Government to account.

"I think they are vulnerable in a whole range of areas ... the big issue on the agenda is the economy."

Dr Brash points to low business confidence, shrinking economic growth and redundancies as reasons the Government should reduce the rate at which its spending is increasing.

This year he will push even harder his well-worn line that New Zealand has to become more prosperous than Australia if it is to survive.

"I had swallowed the Government line that we had been doing relatively well relative to Australia, but that of course is crap."

- NZPA