The departure of Katherine Rich at the next election will ensure the National Party takes a swerve to the right of the political spectrum.
Mrs Rich, a list MP from Dunedin for three terms, was a moderate voice in a caucus dominated by hard-liners, some of whom had survived several electoral cycles since the Jenny Shipley-led government was thrown out of office in 1999.
During the past nine years, Mrs Rich has often been a lone voice in some arguments within National's caucus, and her influence was seen behind the development of the party's more compassionate policies.
Unfortunately, her liberal tendencies were punished when Auckland MPs ganged up on then leader Don Brash to force him to sack Mrs Rich from the role of welfare spokeswoman and replace her with the hard-line Judith Collins.
Mrs Rich refused to endorse aspects of the welfare policies outlined in Dr Brash's Orewa speech in 2005. The main sticking point had been how the party would deal with women who became pregnant while receiving the domestic purposes benefit.
Dr Brash said in his speech such women should receive extra money only in exceptional circumstances. He also suggested they consider adopting children out.
Mrs Rich's second child was a surprise addition to her family, and she knew some children were unplanned. She felt uncomfortable with policies that would put children at risk.
As education spokeswoman, Mrs Rich adopted a line to the left of most of National's caucus, particularly around bulk funding of schools, which is likely to receive higher priority now that Anne Tolley has been appointed the new education spokeswoman with former Rangitoto College principal Allan Peachey as her deputy.
Mrs Tolley is cast in the mould of Mrs Collins, while Mr Peachey is a long-time advocate of bulk funding.
Mrs Rich threw her efforts into securing a win for John Key when it was time for Dr Brash to depart as party leader. Before the deal between Messrs Key and English was negotiated - which resulted in Mr English becoming deputy leader and in charge of most policy development - Mrs Rich was seen as the natural South Island-based deputy to the Auckland-based Mr Key.
Christened ‘‘the dream team'', Mr Key and Mrs Rich complemented each other's style.
The prospect of becoming a cabinet minister in a Key-led government which will be dominated by Auckland issues and policies resurrected from the 1990s appears to have proved a bridge too far for Mrs Rich.
