Opinion: Simon Bridges is in for a rough ride as Opposition leader

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and National leader Simon Bridges. Photos / File

Congratulations to the new leader of National, our very own Tauranga MP Simon Bridges.

No matter your politics, it's pretty cool to know that our guy is now the leader of the country's largest political party.

Hopefully, it will be a benefit for Tauranga and not a hindrance in that the interests of our city will always be a top priority for Bridges and will not get subsumed into the wider political sphere.

I think Bridges will be a good National leader, although I'm not sure he's who I would have picked to go up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Her brand of "nice" politics will be hard to battle as half the country (and her millions of fans around the world) will leap to her defence if Bridges is perceived to be unfairly hard on her.

Barring some major cock-up from Labour, Ardern's personality cult is likely to see the party easily sail into a second term in Government, especially with the country lovingly cooing over toddler photos come election time.

Judith Collins' toughness would have been a good foil against this - she wouldn't have cared about appearing like the bad guy against Ardern and could have scored some solid political wins by saying things others wouldn't dare to.

Her reputation wouldn't suffer because everyone knows she has a bit of the pitbull in her and wouldn't expect any less.

I don't think she could have won an election against Ardern, but then I don't know if there's anyone that's going to be able to do that in 2020. In 2023 maybe.

On the other hand, if Bridges comes across too harshly against Ardern, he will be vilified.

It might have paid off for Bridges to let Collins take one for the team then jump in for the next election cycle.

But who knows, maybe Bridges is just what National needs to take on Ardern.

I guess we'll soon find out!