Tension suggests National coup

Press, 26 March 1986, Page 3

Tension suggests National coup

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

An air of tension was evident among members of the National Party caucus yesterday. It was over whether a leadership coup would be mounted against the leader, Mr McLay.

It was impossible to say one way or the other, but the tension was there.

Mr McLay continues to have a poor rating in the public opinion polls. He is between 3 and 4 per cent in the popular rating. His mostly likely challenger, the deputy leader, Mr Jim Bolger, has been rating higher consistently in recent polls. A section in the caucus

supports Mr McLay and a section supports Mr Bolger. Neither section has a majority. Holding the balance are those who are committed to neither man. The question they are being asked by supporters of Mr McLay and Mr Bolger is: Can National win an election with (the other man) as leader?

It may be that at the short caucus meeting at midday today one or other side will feel confident enough to put their numbers to the test. This has led to tension.

If Mr Bolger’s supporters want to mount a coup, timing will be important.

It should not be too near the five divisional conferences of the party in May, because that would leave a sour taste. They will want to have won in time for the party to have settled down again. They will not want to give any warning, as they did in November last year. A coup just before a long week-end and before a week’s Parliamentary recess would give a new leader time to get firmly in place before his caucus re-assembled. No-one knows, but plenty are feeling anxious about today’s caucus meeting.