Judith Collins and Simon Bridges should consider leaving Parliament – Christopher Finlayson

Former senior national MPs are swaying amid the party chaos and turmoil.

Judith Collins lost her national lead yesterday after a vote of no confidence after accusing Simon Bridges of “serious misconduct”.
Photo: RNZ

National MPs will elect the fifth party leader in four years next Tuesday after Judith Collins issued a no-confidence vote yesterday.

The implosion comes after a press release from Collins late Wednesday night accusing MP and former leader Simon Bridges of “serious misconduct” at a party at the Premier House five years ago.

Collins was replaced by interim leader Shane Reti ahead of a vote on leadership on Tuesday.

Former Attorney General Christopher Finlayson said yesterday’s events were beyond human understanding.

He hopes some of the key players – including Simon Bridges and Judith Collins – use the summer to ponder whether their future lies in politics.

“I think there comes a time when people need to consider whether or not their contribution to politics is complete and whether there are other avenues that they could take.

“Perhaps Simon and Judith need to review the events of the past 18 months and consider whether they should move on for the good of the party.”

Finlayson said what recently happened inside the National Party prevented some of its new candidates from stepping into the spotlight.

He said there were some very good people in the party like Joseph Mooney in Southland, Nicola Grigg, Penny Simmonds in Invercargill, Andrew Bayly and Dr. Shane Reti.

“I would love to see some of these new ones shine a little more because I think they can make a real contribution, the kind of contribution people out there want to hear from the National Party – they are sick” of psychodramas , they just want to keep going. “

Finlayson said National must now run a “positive and polite” campaign and put an end to what has happened once and for all.

He said it was up to the caucus to decide who would become National’s next leader, but Christopher Luxon and Mark Mitchell, who were mentioned as contenders, would both be valid options.

Finlayson said it is the land that matters and there are major issues that need to be addressed in the future.

“You need a principled, talented opposition to offer an alternate vision, so let’s not worry about individual careers or egos, it’s the country that matters.”

Sir David Carter, who spent more than 25 years in Parliament, described the situation as chaos.

Former House Speaker says he would prefer the National Party to sort out its new leader this week rather than wait until Tuesday.

“Though I agree that Judith was retiring, the layoff was sudden, but there have been rumors of a change in leadership for weeks now, so I would have thought the caucus would be able to have a decent discussion today, behind to unite one person and move on. ” in order to.”

Sir David said they will continue considering it over the weekend and hopefully they will announce a leader on Tuesday and continue the work.

Sir David would not endorse any particular candidate, saying that this was not his role and that the responsibility for the correct election of new leaders rests with every member of the National Party Caucus.

“You may find that you spend the weekend talking to yourself and finding a solution that doesn’t involve voting.

“All I am telling the National Party faction members is to get on with the work, find your leader, unite behind your leader, and focus on your real task of holding the government accountable.”

Sir David said the party’s president, Peter Goodfellow, is an incompetent board chairman who “oversaw two election failures” and should go.

He said it was difficult to vote for the party in its current state as the situation was a mess, but he hoped the party can resolve its problems.

Overlooked “Best Qualified” Candidate for National Leadership – Commentator

Political commentator Lara Greaves said Dr. Reti is holding the position at National for the time being, but he may not be the popular choice for National’s top role.

She said that despite the fact that he has been in parliament for seven years, this has been an assistant professor at Harvard and a family doctor in the country for 17 years, as well as strong community ties.

“I think fundamentally the way our politics works with the most qualified candidate and the candidate with the expertise for the current crisis is overlooked.”

Dr. Shane Reti is the incumbent chairman of the National Party until a new chairman is appointed
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone

Greaves said Christopher Luxon was “a safe choice, if very inexperienced”.

She said that Christopher Luxon has only been in parliament for a year and it’s been an odd year due to Covid-19 bans and politicians who sometimes can’t be physically in parliament.

Greaves said he would also run against ACT leader David Seymour, who has become the de facto leader of the opposition, while Labor leader Jacinda Ardern has been in politics for 13 years now.

“So you meet these two leaders who are popular, who are polls, who already have a brand and an identity, and this is a really difficult place.”

Greaves said polls show people see National as “good at business and recovery.”

Awareness of Luxon’s economic capabilities and its affiliation with Air New Zealand will be a strength for National, she said.

Meanwhile, commentator Brigitte Morten, who was also a senior ministerial advisor to the previous National-led government, said that while the party is not in a good position, it handled itself as best it could by not rushing to make a decision about the new leadership to meet.

The field of candidates is still wide open, she said.

Morten said the Collins era had shown that having a leader as a one-person unit causes problems.

She said she wanted to see the entire leadership team, which includes leadership, the deputy, and key roles like health and finance.

Would Christopher Luxon be another Todd Muller?

Former national government press secretary and political commentator Ben Thomas told Nine to Noon that the party was split into many groups – “Simon Bridges ‘camp, Christopher Luxon’s camp, Judith Collins’ camp”.

He said the party should focus on “avoiding continuing calamities and division in the faction that was part of its downfall”.

“Eligibility” is the main criterion when choosing a new leader, he said.

“They know, for example, that Simon Bridges can lead an opposition party – he can provide lines, he can set an agenda, the people who voted Helen Clark and then John Key and then Jacinda Ardern that National is actually their natural home.

“You could also look at the type of hit job / smear job that Judith Collins attempted that had an impact.

“Christopher Luxon is obviously very popular, has the right story for a National Party leader – business success, he is a polished artist. But there will be questions, is that another Todd Muller? 7 Flood of media inquiries and having to think on our feet, we just don’t know yet that he can do it. “