The final vote count is in and National’s traitor, Denise Lee has lost her seat and exits parliament. A fitting end for her treachery in the final days of the campaign.
The specials massively favoured the left. The margin between left and right was only 12% on E-Day votes, a larger 26% on advance votes and a massive 38% on specials. Labour won 54.12% of the specials and National only scored 19.8%.
There were some big changes:
- Labour gains one List MP
- National loses two List MPs
- Maori Party gains a List MP
- National loses Northland, Whangarei and Maungakiekie
- Matt King and Denise Lee out of Parliament
- Shane Reti now a List MP
- Maureen Pugh and Nick Smith safe, due to King and Lee losing
- Cannabis referendum lost
- Euthanasia referendum passed
This just goes to show the damage caused to National by the failure of the Muller/Kaye coup. That occurred before voting opened. The slow erosion of Simon Bridges‘ leadership consumed a few weeks, then there was the six weeks of the failed coup leaving Judith Collins with an impossible task.
National really needs to come up with a strategy to counter the special votes.
It was a special kind of stupid for Denise Lee and her henchman Mark Mitchell to do what they did. Thankfully she is now gone. Perhaps she will find a sixth party to represent.
If you enjoyed this BFD article please share it with others.
