Desparate Act wooing John Banks

John Banks

The courtship between John Banks and the Act Party has been rekindled as a group of desperate party members work to woo the former Auckland City mayor.

The move to recruit Mr Banks is designed not only to boost the party over the 5 per cent threshold, but to present an alternative leader to Rodney Hide after the election.

One source told the Herald that the party was "haemorrhaging members, money and votes" and having Mr Banks on board was seen as a way of reversing that.

Another source said the departure of veteran MP Richard Prebble, who is leaving this election, was a huge loss to the party, but Mr Banks' political experience would help lessen the impact.

Act party president Catherine Judd confirmed that she met Mr Banks yesterday but would not divulge the content of their meeting.

It is understood recruiting Mr Banks would also mean that Act's founder, Sir Roger Douglas, would once again take a more active role in supporting the party.

Last December Sir Roger resigned as patron of the struggling party and slammed its direction, saying it should not be a "front office of the Serious Fraud Office".

The Herald understands the fresh bid to recruit Mr Banks has intensified over recent days after a weekend poll showed the party had slipped further in the polls to only 2 per cent - parliamentary oblivion.

Mr Hide's tactic of pursuing scandals such as the Peter Doone affair and the David Benson-Pope abuse allegations are disturbing some party members who do not think it will win them votes.

Well-placed Act sources supporting the move believe Mr Banks would revitalise the party, but his added appeal was that he would attract some National Party voters to Act.

The Herald understands Mr Banks, who will not comment, is seriously considering standing. Some of his supporters, however, believe he would be better off contesting the mayoralty again, which he has previously said he would consider.

Sources have told the Herald that morale within Act and its caucus is low because the party has made no gains in the polls despite a number of high-profile scandals that its MPs have pursued.

Supporters of Mr Banks say he would also attract funding and the crucial Auckland vote.

Mr Banks, a former National Cabinet minister, has flirted with the idea of standing as an Act candidate since he lost the Auckland mayoralty to Dick Hubbard last year.

At first the Act/Banks courtship appeared to be going well, but Mr Banks raised hackles at the Act conference in March when he publicly demanded a high list position.

The Act board will decide the party list in the next few weeks.

If Mr Banks puts his name forward as a candidate, it is likely to be on the condition that he receives a list ranking in the top six.

Contacted by the Herald last night, Mr Hide said he knew nothing of a renewed effort in the party to recruit Mr Banks but said he would support all candidates.