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Rumours in Wellington are that Chris Bishop has 20 of caucus behind him, meaning he only needs four more to roll Luxon.
Extensive reporting efforts have been unable to confirm this – mainly because no one actually likes Chris Bishop in caucus. The thought that he could get 20 votes lined up before the coup is really on is likely to be a malicious rumour.
If Scott Simpson or Todd McClay are doing the numbers for someone else, it is exactly the kind of rumour they would start, but it appears the rumour was actually started from the Wellington left, who really, really, hate Nicola Willis. They will do anything to stop her being leader.
There are other factors that make Bishop’s attempt on the leadership at the moment highly unlikely. Bishop is not blessed with a face that the camera is kind to, he has a terrible faux-Boris haircut and he is carrying a few extra pounds. His shabby chic wardrobe seems to channel an inner Worzel Gummidge that sneaks through despite the best efforts of Bishop to look prime ministerial.
A Bishop leadership bid would have been demonstrated by a decent hair cut, a serious exercise regime shared on social media and a queer-eye type to refresh his wardrobe. None of this has happened.
So, Bishop may be doing the numbers, but the indications are he is not.
