Ousted National Party leader and Rakaia MP Jenny Shipley has vowed to retain her electorate seat and to support any changes that follow in the wake of the coup that saw her toppled from the leadership this week.
She was yesterday replaced by her deputy and Clutha-Southland MP Bill English.
In an
exclusive interview yesterday Mrs Shipley told the Christchurch Star she was "hugely disappointed" at losing the opportunity to continue to lead the party.
She was passionate about the party and what it stood for and what it could do for the country, she said.
However, the party wanted the changes and because she believed in democracy she would not stand in the way of what it wanted.
She said she had no intention of resigning from Parliament.
"I am certainly not going to cause a by-election in my own Rakaia electorate . . . it has been through that before and I am happy to make it clear I am not going to do that."
Mrs Shipley said she had not made any other plans and did not feel pressed to do so.
"I am going to take time to smell the air and to get thinking about what to do next." She said she would probably come up with a decision after Christmas.
Mrs Shipley said that she was determined to spend more time in her electorate. The people of her electorate had strongly supported her.
"They have been very good to me. They have also been very generous in lending me to New Zealand and I intend to reward that support."
The National Party had already chosen her to represent it in Rakaia at the next election.
- CHRISTCHURCH STAR
