By Bernard Orsman
The former queen of talkback, Pam Corkery, provoked a typically controversial on-air session yesterday after announcing she was opting out of Parliament.
The straight-talking first-term Alliance MP fronted up to her old audience on Radio Pacific and said that while some callers were supportive, others said she was a wimp and a quitter.
But she told the New Zealand Herald that she had not sold out what she believed in.
Pam Corkery entered Parliament high on the Alliance list in 1996 with the aim of representing ordinary people for a decade.
Following a year of "starry-eyed optimism" in Parliament, the last 12 months had been hell, she said. She came to dislike life as an MP, found she could not express herself and regretted being away from a new husband.
"There is a whole overall vibe that is wrong for me. Thinking before I speak on everything. Becoming so combative. Aspiring to be shrewd, which doesn't seem that admirable."
Last year, Pam Corkery also lost the prized social security spokesmanship and never got much traction in the other portfolio dear to her heart, broadcasting.
"I have failed politics by choice because to succeed would have required me to make a change I'm not prepared to make."
Pam Corkery, who wants to return to a media role but not talkback, will know after an Alliance retreat at Bulls next Tuesday whether she will quit politics immediately or stay on until the elections. She would like to stay, but said she would do what was strategically best for the Alliance - "they may want to blood a new MP."
A Hamilton city councillor, Dave McPherson, is next in line on the Alliance list.
The Alliance leader, Jim Anderton, said it was his preference for Pam Corkery to see out the term because the public were a bit jaundiced about the musical chairs being played by MPs swapping parties.
The Alliance deputy leader, Sandra Lee, said there was no bad blood in the Alliance about Pam Corkery's decision, which had personally saddened her.
She said her colleague had been a vibrant whirlwind around Parliament who had taught other MPs some darn good lessons.
"At times Parliament can be far too elite and precious and what Pam Corkery brought to Parliament was a reminder of a bit of good old-fashioned, straight-shooting people-talk. It was a breath of fresh air."
But the Act list MP, Rodney Hide, said Pam Corkery's going would be Parliament's gain.
"Her only legacy is to have set new standards for disgraceful behaviour and rudeness. She was abusive in the lobbies, in the lift, in the hallways, first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
"She is the rudest person I have ever had the misfortune to come across."
Meanwhile, the serious-minded Act MP Derek Quigley may follow Pam Corkery and quit politics.
Mr Quigley refused to comment on his political future yesterday after Alliance sources, in an attempt to deflect attention away from Pam Corkery, said he was going to resign.
A former National cabinet minister, Mr Quigley has at times been out of sympathy with populist causes run by the party leader, Richard Prebble, and Mr Hide.
Mr Prebble is out of the country, but the acting leader, Ken Shirley, said last night that Mr Quigley had not made any decision on whether he would stand again in this year's election.
Pictured: Pam Corkery, back at home. HERALD PICTURE / BRETT PHIBBS
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