Freshly retired from his stint as president of Federated Farmers – Don Nicolson has formally announced he will be entering national politics.

Mr Nicolson ended the widespread speculation yesterday when he confirmed he will indeed stand as an ACT Party candidate at this year’s General Election.

He will be standing for Act in the Clutha—Southland electorate against incumbent deputy Prime Minister Bill English in November.

Mr Nicolson says his campaign goal for the election is to boost the party vote of Act.

“I would be very disappointed if we didn’t enough party votes to get up to 10 MPs in Parliament.

“That is an aspirational goal I admit, compared to where we may have been in the past, but I think it’s important that we get this country back on track economically.

“We need to have makers not takers.”  

The Act Party is currently polling at below two percent.

At last month’s Federated Farmers AGM Act Party leader Don Brash didn’t let the cat out of the bag but made it clear to Country 99TV that Mr Nicolson would be welcome in the party.

During Mr Nicolson’s stint as Federated Farmers president the rural lobby group was stridently opposed to what it said was flawed government policies including: Working For Families, 20 hours free childcare, Kiwisaver and interest free student loans -  policy positions all shared by the Act Party.