Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
2014 General Election
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Act Party
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Epsom
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Jamie Whyte
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John Banks
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Resignation
We've just arrived home from our weekend in Christchurch. And we've arrived home to the news that John Banks' last act in public life is an honourable one; the Herald reports:
Act MP John Banks has announced his resignation from Parliament, effective from this Friday.
The Epsom MP made his decision after being found guilty last Thursday of filing a false donations declaration for the Auckland mayoral race in 2010.
"I have given my heart and soul over four decades to making a worthwhile contribution to this country," he said in a statement. "I have always endeavored to do the right thing. Consequently I am saddened at this turn of events."
Act Party leader Jamie Whyte is thought to have wanted his resignation but friends of Banks say he was likely to have resigned anyway to prevent further damage to Act and National.
The move means Banks will avoid being forced out of Parliament by a conviction.
The judge held off entering a conviction last Thursday until sentencing on August 1 because Banks' lawyer, David Jones QC, gave notice he wanted to apply for a discharge without conviction.
It is highly unlikely a by-election will be held in Epsom to fill his vacancy.
Because the vacancy falls within six months of a general election, a by-election can be avoided with the support of 75 per cent of the Parliament.
Once Act leader Jamie Whyte confirmed yesterday that he wanted Banks to resign the die was cast. Rather than being sacked from Parliament within days of the 50th Parliament dissolving for the General Election, Banks has removed himself from the scene. That is entirely the right course of action on his part.
John Banks has had a life of public service. He is many different things to many different people, but he has never been a quitter. His resignation as an MP is a sad end to his career, but we are sure that having taken a few days to reflect on Thursday's guilty verdict, he understood only too well that the writing was on the wall.
There is no triumph in Banks' decision to resign, and there will be plenty of MP's and local body election candidates saying "There by the grace of God go I". Having done the honourable thing, John Banks now has the chance to rebuild his life and his reputation away from the glare of publicity.
