The National Party’s 29% poll is a disaster for Simon Bridges personally and for the 18 MPs who will lose their seats. It also means that the new National Party leader will only be able to become Prime Minister if a deal is done with New Zealand First.
Before COVID-19 and before the public worked out what an unlikeable, unpleasant and incompetent individual Simon Bridges is, he ruled out doing a deal with New Zealand First.
This was when the National Party was polling in the 40s. It was still a decision that could have left Bridges unable to form a government and become Prime Minister with National in the 40s; but Bridges decided he was loved by the electorate and would win the election handsomely, so he didn’t need New Zealand First.
National’s new leader may only get one shot at becoming Prime Minister.
They may not get a second election campaign so their one and only chance of becoming PM is to do so with New Zealand First’s support. Muller, Mitchell, Collins and Kaye should all be arranging a whisky with Winston as soon as possible, because, without his support, they will end their career as a failed opposition leader.
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