Opinion: Speirs is back in Black but with few friends in high places

Disgraced former Liberal leader David Speirs says his going it alone will be a big bonus for the voters in Black, but Mike Smithson is not so sure.

Former disgraced Liberal leader David Speirs has finally completed his cat and mouse re-election game for the seat of Black.

He still considers he has electoral appeal in the southern seat which was forced into a by-election after he quit the leadership and the party.

This is despite the fact that he was arrested and convicted on two drug supply charges involving cocaine almost a year ago.

His self-belief isn’t shared by powerbrokers in his former party.

It comes as no real surprise after he lied to the Liberal team and to the rest of the state about his drug involvement which included enticing a reforming addict back into the potentially deadly habit.

He recently approached the Liberal Party’s state executive for a preference deal which posed both reward and risk.

The hierarchy didn’t want a bar of their former golden boy but consulted their parliamentary MPs on whether to enter into a preference deal with him or not.

The joint decision was swift and without equivocation – Speirs will be preferenced last by the Libs in Black.

A senior Liberal told me that showing any support to Speirs after his words and actions was a risk not worth taking and was principled in decency rather than politics.

Speirs may still have a following down south but might also be deluded as to the extent of his popularity.

He wanted to be listed second on the Liberal how-to-vote card, which was not to help them, but to help himself if it’s a tight contest.

Combining their voting power in what was formerly a Liberal........

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