By JOHN ARMSTRONG
National Party MPs will elect a new deputy leader this morning, when Bill English is expected to head off Gerry Brownlee and succeed Wyatt Creech as Jenny Shipley's number two.
Backers of Mr English were yesterday predicting a comfortable victory for the Southland MP, but Mr Brownlee's supporters said the race was close. However, a batch of MPs have yet to declare their positions.
Caucus sources said some waverers had been swayed against Mr Brownlee, MP for Ilam, by his attack on Mr English in a Sunday newspaper.
The vote will be taken at the start of National's three-day caucus meeting in Napier, where MPs will discuss strategy for the parliamentary session, which kicks off for the year next week.
A vote will also be taken for a new junior whip to succeed Mr Brownlee, whom Mrs Shipley has promoted to National's front bench.
Contenders for the job are thought to include Lindsay Tisch, Shane Ardern, Alec Neill and possibly Brian Neeson.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
'Unresolved factual issues': Inquest to be held over Auckland supermarket terror attack
The coroner said while the case was “complex and difficult”, questions still arose.