What's REALLY going on?

You have to wonder what's REALLY going on behind the scenes in the Act Party. Audrey Young drops a few hints in this morning's Herald:

Relations between former Act deputy Heather Roy and leader Rodney Hide had become so bad that she complained to Ministerial Services that he breached security when he took a piece of paper relating to her defence portfolio from her office.

Mr Hide repeatedly refused yesterday to reveal details about why the caucus voted her out of the job.

But the Herald understands the complaint was a recent occurrence and not only reflected the bad relationship between the two but precipitated her removal yesterday by the caucus.

It was the final straw after a failed coup last year and a speech to the party conference this year that questioned the party's reliance on Mr Hide.

Now we presume that Audrey Young isn't making up the allegation that Mr Hide took a document from Ms Roy's desk. If the allegation is valid, it raises significant concerns over Rodney Hide's conduct. It may also explain why he and his colleagues were so tight-lipped at their media conference yesterday afternoon.

Act is in a mess. This is a farce of Chris Carter proportions, and one which Phil Goff will be delighted to see happening around someone other than him! The challenge for Act now is to get itself sorted, or it will be history at next year's election in our humble opinion. The voters of Epsom have been loyal to Rodney Hide; however if he goes, Act goes; it's as simple as that.