Wellington — New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has made a habit of doing the unexpected during his political career, and he stayed true to form on Monday when he abruptly resigned. A millionaire ex-banker who exudes an everyman appeal with voters even after eight years in power, the 55-year-old was expected to win a record-equalling fourth term next year. Instead, he announced he was stepping down and throwing open the leadership of his centre-right National Party. "All I can say is that I gave it everything I had, I have left nothing in the tank," he told reporters. Political commentator Matthew Hooton said it was typical that Key wanted to leave on his own terms, rather than cling on to power as long as possible. "The one thing about him, while he’s an incredibly skilled politician, clearly there has always been an element of the anti-politician within him," Hooton told Radio New Zealand. The son of a poor, widowed Jewish refugee mother brought up in government housing, Key has ...
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