As Christopher Luxon tries to defend his leadership against the pissed off National caucus, he has one major problem beyond his terrible poll numbers.
There is no Luxon faction.
There is no team of loyalists that will die in a ditch for him. None. No one. No one who owes their career to him. No one who is only in parliament because of him. No one who is only in cabinet because of him.
This leaves him in a very weak position. Who in caucus can he trust?
Can he trust Nicola Willis, his finance spokesman who John Key and Bill English both think is a future prime minister.
Chris Bishop, who has “I want to be PM” practically stamped on his forehead for everyone to see?
Is there anyone around the cabinet table that he can trust if it comes to a knife fight? Who knows him as a bloke? Who has he had round for a few beers and a barbecue? Who has he gone fishing with? Any of them?
In the interests of being correct, readers are encouraged to comment with the names of any true Luxon loyalists that they know about.
Politicians need allies and they need factions. Those are the people others have to go through to get to the king. Does Christopher Luxon have any loyalists?
I think the answer is no, he does not.
