Parliament is a buzz with talk about the shock decision by National Front Bencher Katherine Rich not to stand at the next election.
A member of The Hive team was in Parliament as the news circulated. One of Rich's colleagues suggested that final decision was only made yesterday (we note media reports suggesting that she told John Key last week). The reasons are genuine, Rich wants to spend more time with her family. We salute her for her willingness to priritise in favour of her family.
This is going to make things intersting in terms of candidate selection and list positions. We understand that National may be finding it hard to get all the high calibre candidates it was hoping for to stand. At least one in the Wellington region is rumoured to have cold feet about standing in Paul Swain's old seat.
