Colin Craig suspended from Conservative Party — sort of, maybe

Colin Craig has been dumped from the party he founded and bankrolled.

A newly appointed Conservative Party board suspended Mr Craig's membership "pending a more detailed board review" at a special meeting today, held at a budget hotel near Auckland Airport.

Earlier this week, Mr Craig said he would sound out grassroots members over a leadership comeback. That door appears to now be closed – unless it's not. In keeping with the confused and chaotic tone of recent events, Mr Craig told media that the new board, led by interim chairman John Stringer, "is a wee bit out of their depth. It is clearly not awful. We do have a constitution that has rules that have to be followed."

Mr Craig says he's been advised in writing by former chairman Brian Dobbs (who resigned yesterday) that disciplinary action last week had resulted in Mr Stringer himself being suspended – which, if true, would invalidate today's vote.

Mr Craig stood down as leader on June 19 after conceding some aspects of his relationship with his former press secretary Rachel MacGregor were "inappropriate."

In the days following, all but one board member resigned.

Today, four new board members were appointed to join the remaining incumbent, John Stringer.

They were Deborah Cunliffe, former Conservative Party candidate in the Bay of Plenty electorate, Mark Pearce, former Palmerston North candidate, Thomas O'Rourke, former Te Atatu candidate and Al Belcher, the party's regional chairman in the Waikato.

Mr Stringer has been one of Mr Craig's staunchest critics over the past week, including a new allegation that Mr Craig's objection to the Lochinver sale turned off potential Asian backers. But, ironically, he told media this afternoon he was the only board member to vote against suspension.

The road ahead is not clear for the party. The most obvious candidate for leader, Garth McVicar, is reluctant to run, while Epsom candidate Christine Rankin resigned from the board earlier this week.

The party's board had 10 members before the MacGregor controversy blew up. Mr Stringer – now interim chairman – says more board members will be added over time.