Kroger falls on his sword

VICTORIAN Liberal Party President Michael Kroger has resigned, telling members that when his own supporters say it’s time to go, then he should probably go.

Mr Kroger, who has been under pressure to vacate the job since his party’s devastating state election loss, also indicated his responsibility in the election result saying, “the buck stops at the top”.

His comments came in an internal email sent to members on Friday, notifying them that he had advised a meeting of the Victorian Liberal state assembly that he would stand down. Mr Kroger said that given the federal election is in May next year he had until yesterday thought it appropriate to remain as president of the party’s Victorian division to ensure stability.

“However, upon reading various newspaper articles today I think that when your own supporters are basically telling you it is time to go, then it is probably time to go,” Mr Kroger wrote. After comments about the need to elect a new president, Mr Kroger told members to remember that the president “cannot control everything in the party”.