Party 'leader' lies low

By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter

Jim Anderton is having as little as possible to do publicly with his next party, the Progressive Coalition, because he does not want to court further criticism over his intended party-hopping.

As promised last month, he will lead the new party into the next election but will not join it until the campaign begins.

That is when it will have its inaugural conference, elect a leader, confirm policy and draw up a party list.

In the meantime, the Progressive Coalition is being run by a founding executive, which was announced yesterday.

The general secretary is Marty Braithwaite, of Christchurch.

Two Aucklanders are co-chairpersons: Democratic Party president Peter Kane and Petronella Townsend, who is the wife of key Anderton supporter and Cabinet minister Matt Robson.

The other executive members are Phil Clearwater, an Anderton stalwart in the leader's Wigram electorate, and Democrats Jill Henry of Auckland and Stephnie de Ruyter of Invercargill.

The party's name and logo were to have been announced in Wellington tomorrow but the launch was cancelled because the information is already public.

Mr Anderton was never planning to attend the announcement. It is understood he does not want to draw further attention to his future with another party while he remains parliamentary leader of the Alliance.

Mr Anderton is under daily fire in Parliament about the state of his leadership. He is still recognised by Speaker Jonathan Hunt as the Alliance leader because he has the support of most Alliance MPs, who have been expelled from the party for their plans to defect.

Former National Party leader Jenny Shipley attacked the repeated claims by Prime Minister Helen Clark that she does not have to speak for the Alliance's actions in the House.

"By implication and by turning her eyes away from this and saying she is not responsible for any other party, she is party to the deception," Mrs Shipley said, leading National in the regular Wednesday general debate in Bill English's absence.

She cited website material, including the Progressive logo and a speech by Mr Anderton on why he is leaving the Alliance, as evidence "that there is now a major abuse, a deception and a fraud".

"Jim Anderton is manipulating the electoral system. The Prime Minister by her silence is complicit in this event."

Mrs Shipley also said the Clerk of the House, the Electoral Commission and the office of the Speaker could be perpetuating a contempt of Parliament by recognising Mr Anderton as the Alliance leader.

Last night, the National Party wrote to the Speaker accusing Mr Anderton of deliberately misleading Parliament.

Mr Hunt could decide to send the complaint to the privileges committee for further consideration.