Former broadcaster Paul Henry has been announced as a new ACT Party candidate.
Henry resigned this morning from the TVNZ board and said he had signed the candidate documents “about 20 minutes ago” after being confirmed by the ACT board last night. He will be standing as list only, and wants to be a Minister.
Making the announcement in Auckland, Henry said he would answer “probably the most burning question - why?”
“Standing before you is an uncommonly handsome older gentleman who clearly doesn't need a new career, so why would I do this? Put simply, my wife and I have 10 grandchildren between us," he said.
“…As someone who cares very much about this country and has always been interested in politics, I thought, what is the chance that as you grow a little older, you will have the same opportunities that your grandfather had when he was growing up in paradise, what are the chances that you will be growing up in a country that champions success, that champions individual responsibility, that has prepared a platform on which you can easily succeed and encourage others to succeed?"
"What are the odds versus you'll be brought up in a country with a ballooning debt that has missed its opportunities to sort that debt out and sort itself out?"
Henry said he was thinking about the next election while he was in the US last month.
"As I was becoming slightly more concerned about this next election, which is pivotal, I was thinking: Should I do something about it personally? Should I put myself on the line?"
“And then there was a poll, which indicated there was a chance Labour could form the next government. Let me tell you: if they do that, it will be a complete disaster. Not because Labour is always a complete disaster, which they are, but because this is a particularly vital election," he said.
Henry, who has previously run for the National Party, said he was "enormously disappointed" in National.
ACT leader David Seymour said he expected Henry to be in Parliament after the next election, which is set for November 7.
7 Comments
I wannabe a minister. That catch cry belongs to the Greens. Cannot think of anything more off putting.
The ego has landed. Another legend - entirely in his own mind.
Just what politics needs: another voice in love with itself.
But does it make you wonder what the house will sound like during debates?
Perhaps his strategy is to have the opponents laugh so hard they cannot get a word out to rebuttal.
"Should I do something about it personally? Should I put myself on the line?"
Going on the list is hardly putting yourself on the line. Standing in electorate, however, is putting yourself potentially in risks way.
What relevant skills or experience does this individual offer our parliament and country?
- health? Nope
- economics? Nope
- defense, education, environment, race relations, social stability?
His record suggests that he is a fan of Trump, and will set our relationship with India (who we just signed a trade agreement with) back about 20 years?
I may be wrong, but I suspect his candidacy will be a net negative for ACT....so more Paul Henry's please.
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