Roy retires
Stuff reports:
Two decades after he was first elected to Parliament, MP Eric Roy has announced he will not stand for re-election at the end of this year.
First elected in 1993, Mr Roy said he had been humbled and privileged to serve Southland.
“People put their trust in you every three years to represent their views and voices, in a way that has been my humble driver,” he said.
He was first elected to Parliament in 1993, as MP for Awarua When seat was dissolved forthe 1996 election he became a National Party list member, , serving electorates in the lower South Island.
In 2002 he contested the Invercargill seat, but was narrowly beaten by Labour’s Mark Peck.
Mr Peck announced he would not stand for re-election after his second term. , and with 49.51 per cent of the vote, Mr Roy was elected Invercargill MP, a position he has maintained for three terms.
He said politics was always in his blood and being an agent of change was just how he was “wired”.
“But in politics you have to remember one thing: you will agree with about 80 per cent of anything, 10 per cent you can be persuaded on and 10 per cent you don’t agree with – that’s the basic rule when you are in any party, otherwise you will stand for nothing,” he said.
Eric is one of the nicest and funniest guys around. He’s the current Deputy Speaker and has the respect of MPs across the House for his work in that role.
The rejuvenation trend continues for National with this announcements. Retirements since the election have included:
- Shane Ardern, TKC
- Chris Aunchinvole, List
- Jackie Blue, List (already gone)
- Cam Calder, List
- Phil Heatley, Whangarei
- Paul Hutchison, Hunua
- Colin King, Kaikoura (challenged)
- Eric Roy, Invercargill
- Katrina Shanks, List (already gone)
- Lockwood Smith, List (already gone)
- Chris Tremain, Napier
- Kate Wilkinson, Waimakariri
National needs rejuvenation to increase its chances for future elections. There is still one more possible announcement I would say, and also one more electorate challenge to be decided.