The full text of a letter sent to the NZ Herald on May 2nd. They published a truncated version the following day.
Dear Editor
Letter writer, Ian Gerwin of Orewa (2/5/11) incorrectly blames MMP for Don Brash being made leader of the ACT Party. The ACT Party did that all by themselves and could have done it just as easily, under First Past the Post. In Canada in 1983, Brian Mulroney went straight from being CEO of Iron Ore Corp to being the leader the Conservative Party. He wasn't an MP at the time either. His party arranged for a by-election and got him into the House of Commons. At least under MMP, Dr. Brash has to wait until November, assuming ACT don't entirely disappear. How parties pick their leaders has nothing to do with MMP. Exactly the same thing can happen under First Past the Post and there is no shortage of examples.
Steve Withers
Daily review 13/05/2024
4 hours ago
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