Christian shambles no surprise to PM 

The crumbling relationship between the co-leaders of a newly formed Christian political party comes as no surprise to the Prime Minister.

Gordon Copeland may pull the plug on his involvement with the party, mainly due to a clumsy announcement and lack of co-ordination with his supposed co-leader, Destiny's Richard Lewis.

Helen Clark is questioning why Copeland would get involved with anything to do with the Destiny Church. She says Copeland is a well meaning man but he falls over when trying to explain what he is doing.

The new, peace loving Christian party is supposed to be all about unity. But Copeland is now describing its set up as shambolic and mickey mouse and he is not sure it will even survive.

The former United Future MP squirmed as he watched Destiny Church leaders confirm on a live internet broadcast just who would lead the new Christian party.

Brian Tamaki announced that Copeland was one of the leaders but the Independent MP is furious he was not told the name of the other leader, Destiny's Richard Lewis, would also be announced.

"I have never seen any politician have to field a curve ball as big as that," says Copeland.

And in an extraordinary outburst, he is casting doubt on the Christian party's future, before it has even been launched. When a journalist suggested the start didn't bode well for future relations, Copeland replied: "You can say that again."

He says the deal has got to be worked through.

"I'm in damage control at the moment. This has not gone down well, as you might imagine...that's not the way we had planned it and it should never have happened," says Copeland.

His former leader couldn't agree more.

"Chaotic, shambolic, amusing to watch, but frankly, anything that involves Tamaki and the black shirts is doomed to fail," says United Future leader, Peter Dunne.

Destiny has apologised to Copeland for the surprise and says he has given no indication he is no longer on board. It still plans to launch the party in a few weeks and believes it can win enough votes to get into parliament.

If elected, it is keen to form a coalition with National.

"We'll talk to them like we'd talk to anyone if we're in a position to put together a government," says National Party leader John Key.

But others say that is not a smart move.

"I think National has got to be very careful it doesn't get portrayed as being in league with the Brethren last election, and in league with Destiny at the next one," says Dunne.