Whyte quits as ACT leader, Seymour steps in

Jamie Whyte has resigned as ACT's leader.

The party's board has appointed Epsom MP David Seymour to succeed Dr Whyte, president John Thompson says.

“Today I announce that I have tendered, and the board has accepted, my resignation as leader of ACT New Zealand," Dr Whyte said in a statement.

“Clearly I make this announcement with regret. However, the election result is clear, and I must now turn to my career and my family.

“I stood to lead ACT because I believe in the party’s ideas.  I will continue to advance these ideas both inside and outside the party.  I do not rule out returning to a substantial role with ACT in the future.”

On Monday, Prime Minister-elect John Key said Mr Seymour would be made under-secretary to the Minister of Education and an under-secretary to the Minister for Regulatory Reform in the National-led government (the full cabinet is due to be announced Monday, and sworn-in mid-week ahead of Parliament resuming on October 20).

Did not want Epsom
During an Ask Me Anything session with NBR ONLINE readers August 1, Dr Whyte was asked why he did not stand for Epsom.

"I did not stand because it requires fulltime local campaigning to win Epsom. David Seymour has knocked on 10,000 doors already I am very busy campaigning nationally to lift ACT's party vote. I could not have done that as Epsom candidate," he replied.

Party vote fell
In the event, ACT recieved 0.69% of the list vote on September 20, down from the 1.07% it received in 2011. 

The dip came despite other parties on the right – National, NZ First and the Conservatives – increasing their vote.

University of Auckland graduate Dr Whyte gained a PhD in Philosophy and lectured at Cambridge University before joining New York-based management-consultancy firm Oliver Wyman.

His entry into politics on his return to New Zealand proved awkward.

His ivory tower comments on incest make him a media mark from the get-go. And his campaign was complicated by the juxtaposition of pushing tough-on-crime policies while pleading the case for leniency for former Epsom MP John Banks amid his conviction for falsely filing donations from Kim Dotcom and Sky City.

The uphill struggle wasn't helped by Mr Seymour's lack of national profile, and lack of gravitas. ACT supporters will be hoping the puckish Epsom MP grows into his new role.

ckeall@nbr.co.nz