Paul Goldsmith dismisses talk of rolling Prime Minister Christopher Luxon

Christopher Luxon is “a very intelligent guy” and the only talk about turfing him from the top job is coming from the “chatterati”, columnists and those with short attention spans who “always want some excitement”, a senior Cabinet minister says.

No one in National’s caucus had raised with him the idea of replacing Luxon, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith told Ryan Bridge on Herald NOW this morning.

Goldsmith’s comments came after Herald columnist Matthew Hooton wrote that senior ministers were complaining the Prime Minister was failing to show the country that a “bold and comprehensive reform programme”, rivalling great reforming Governments of the past, was under way across most portfolios.

“They say this Government lacks a Prime Minister who can comprehend and pull it all together, communicate the vision that underpins it and build confidence among voters and the business community that he and his ministers know what they are doing,” Hooton wrote.

Commentator Matthew Hooton is a frequent critic of Christopher Luxon's leadership. File photo / Michael Craig

That was consistent with Luxon’s 15th place ranking in performance among Government ministers in the Herald’s Mood of the Boardroom survey of chief executives in September, and polls showing the PM “languishing well below National’s support and even further behind the Government when NZ First and Act are added to the mix”, he wrote.

And this week, the latest Ipsos Issues Monitor study showed voters ranked Labour ahead of National in managing all the top five issues that most concern them, except law and order, Hooton wrote.

But reshuffling ministerial roles wasn’t the answer, as “they aren’t really the problem”, the columnist wrote.

“To Luxon’s credit, most of them do appear to be in the right roles. The one exception seems to be Luxon himself.”

‘Stuck on the same record’

Goldsmith told Bridge that for “as long as I can remember, [Hooton’s] been writing columns that the National leader is no good and they’re going to be rolled”.

“Same with [Newstalk ZB’s Barry] Soper. They’re just … stuck on the same record.”

There was a prospect of a second term of a National-led Government after next year’s election having only a majority of one or two seats, Goldsmith said.

“The Key government had a majority of one for six years and made good progress.”

Asked if he was hearing any talk about rolling Luxon, Goldsmith told Bridge that was only coming from certain people and groups.

“Amongst the chatterati and amongst the columnists and amongst the people with short attention spans who always want some excitement, there’s chatter. But in the caucus, we’re very focused on doing the job.”

Bridge asked Goldsmith if any caucus colleagues had messaged or spoken to him about replacing Luxon.

“Absolutely none,” said Goldsmith.

Peters: ‘You’re not going to get me’

Meanwhile, NZ First leader Winston Peters told the Mike Hosking Breakfast it was up to National who their leader was.

Peters, whose party formed a tripartite coalition Government with National and Act after the last election, had been asked about the possibility of Luxon being replaced by Chris Bishop.

“Look, it’s the National Party leadership and it’s over to them. After that, the question becomes what do other people think of that, but they’re not going to get me, as they would love to say, ‘Oh, Winston Peters has been involved in the National Party leadership question.’

“No, I’m not. You’re not going to get me or any of my colleagues involved in that. We get on and do our job properly.”