Fran O'Sullivan: Young bloods could be just the ticket

New ministers David Bennett, Mark Mitchell, Jacqui Dean and Alfred Ngaro signal the direction of the Bill English-led Government. Photo / Getty

Once a fresh young hope, English went for greyer heads when filling the vacant posts in his Government

Bill English was in full party-animal mode working the room at the press gallery's annual party in Wellington last week.

And razzing those, including this columnist, who suggested it might be time to inject some seriously new blood into National's top team.

Several days later, you would have to pinch yourself to remember that English was once the youngest member of a National Cabinet given his (almost) visceral reaction to the notion that a 35-year-old might have been catapulted straight into his ministry.

Yet, English made the point, when distinguishing why he had appointed older MPs as first-time Ministers (both inside and outside Cabinet) rather than opting for a more significant generational shift, he was looking to other factors, as well as age, when it came to filling four vacant slots in Cabinet.

Contrast this with former National Prime Minister Jim Bolger who appointed English to Cabinet as a mere 34-year-old in 1996.

It is true that English had already served as a parliamentary undersecretary and as chairman of the Social Services parliamentary select committee before that.

He had also come into Parliament in 1990 along with the other members of National's then "brat pack": Tony Ryall, Roger Sowry and Nick Smith.

But while he brought the talented Alfred Ngaro straight into Cabinet last Sunday and is blooding Mark Mitchell with some light portfolios outside Cabinet, the two other members of the self-styled "Four Amigos" - Chris Bishop and Todd Muller - will have wait their time.

Both are capable MPs and may yet serve as chairs of powerful select committees.
It's easy to understand where English is coming from.

By bringing Jacqui Dean and David Bennett into his overall ministry he is sending a powerful signal to the regions.

But he could, and in my view should, have also shown some daring.

For instance, Bishop might be 32 but he has huge talent. Unfortunately he has been overlooked for now.

It's a pity the back bench revolution was stopped in its tracks. But the backbenchers have made enough gains to force Cabinet into listening mode.

It would be unfortunate if he is paying the price for the back-bench agitation after John Key's resignation.

Nevertheless the "Four Amigos" have proven themselves be a force to be reckoned with.
It is doubtful that Judith Collins and Jonathan Coleman would have even dared raise the prospect of a tilt at the National leadership without the push from the backbench for something other than a leadership "coronation."

Same, too, with Simon Bridges and his nudge for the deputy leadership.

All three contenders backed away.

But the internal pressure has resulted in English enlarging Cabinet's senior leadership team, or "kitchen cabinet", to include Bridges, Coleman and Amy Adams, with, Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett commissioned to maintain strong links with National's back bench.

This is frankly long overdue.

It's a pity the back bench revolution was stopped in its tracks. But the backbenchers have made enough gains to force Cabinet into listening mode.

This is hugely important for National going ito election year.

The Key-led Cabinet had turned a tin ear to some important issues affecting housing supply and affordability until late in Key's leadership.

Auckland's infrastructure issues are obvious. So far the signs are that the Cabinet intends to maintain its intransigence on these issues.

Would a late-30s finance minister - as English once was - have taken the same stance?

Hard to know. But if National wants to stay relevant those voices should be accommodated.