Brownlee jumps too

Just heard on Nat Rad 3pm news that Brownlee has announced in a press conference he called this arvo that he is standing down from the Deputy Leadership of National and will not contest it tomorrow at caucus.

The news item also stated that the expectation is now that Key and English will be elected to the two top spots tomorrow, with the Leadership going to the MP for Helensville.

So it looks like the caucus may have done the real decision- (and deal-) making over the weekend and tomorrow will be designed to show that National is stable, united, able to move forward together, marching in step, signing from the same hymn sheet, and generally all on the same page.