No Minister is speculating about the security of Winston's leadership of NZ First. Wonderful as the prospect of a coup within that party is, we can't see it happening this side of the election. Everyone involved in that party knows that Winston just cares about Winston and that he will do what is best for Winston Peters as opposed to the party, but the fact is that without Winston, they have zero chance of getting back into Parliament. We understand that most members of the party in Parliament are spending their days studying the situations vacant sections of the newspaper and being super friendly to National Party MPs they run into in the corridor. They all hope that they will be looked after with CCMAU directorships post election. It is all quite sad really.
So in summary, the mood in the party is one of intense gloom. They realise Winston is a problem, but for the moment, he is a problem they have to have.
