Thomas Coughlan reveals how Christopher Luxon evaded an MP who tried to tell him of flagging support - sources. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
National Minister Chris Bishop has again thrown his support behind Prime Minister Christopher Luxon after an exclusive Herald report revealed discontent within the party and a potential leadership challenge in the coming weeks.
Speaking with TVNZ’s Q+Awith Jack Tame, Bishop said Luxon was doing a “great job” andwould lead the National Party into the election.
“I think the Prime Minister enjoys the confidence of the caucus and he enjoys my confidence.”
The next two weeks are expected to be the most difficult of Luxon’s time as leader as the Herald understands those who believe Luxon should leave his position will make their move in the next fortnight.
It comes after poor polling for the National Party and revelations that senior MP and party whip Stuart Smith had tried to present Luxon with what sources said was flagging caucus support prior to the Easter break.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at a media stand-up at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
As the party whip, Smith is tasked with the job of monitoring caucus and serving as a conduit between the backbench and Luxon as National leader.
In the last week of the sitting block, Smith tried to contact Luxon about ructions in the caucus, three sources told the Herald. The ructions had reached a point at which Smith, as whip, was obliged to notify Luxon. It is not clear whether Luxon retained the confidence of caucus at this point.
Luxon could not be contacted by Smith, sources said. For some time, the whip could not arrange any time to speak with his leader – a rare and extraordinary state of affairs, particularly when Parliament was sitting and both men were working in the same precinct.
This meant Smith could not relay the information to Luxon, which may have triggered the process for his potential departure as leader, sources said.
In the eyes of Luxon’s critics, he ghosted the party whip to avoid facing his flagging confidence in caucus.
‘Not the right way to do things’
Bishop denied any knowledge of the incident while appearing on Q+A with Jack Tame but condemned “people talking out of school” as “unhelpful and untidy”.
“Obviously, someone has been talking to Thomas Coughlan (Political Editor of the Herald). And they shouldn’t be doing that.
“That is not the right way to do things. That is unhelpful and untidy and indicates that the National Party is focused on ourselves rather than focused on the country.
“I think the people who have talked to Thomas Coughlan are unhappy and I am prepared to accept that. That is sort of a statement of fact, I am not going to deny the reality.”
In the Herald report, multiple sources said a formal challenge or confidence vote against Luxon remained unlikely.
The first move would be for Luxon to be presented with evidence of his flagging support in caucus, potentially triggering his resignation and a change of leadership.
Should Luxon not resign, a challenge may take place. There is no formal challenger at this stage, only a group of MPs who do not support Luxon’s leadership, the Herald understands.
Bishop has been rumoured as a potential leadership contender, but he told TVNZ’s Q+A with Jack Tame that were the position of leader to become vacant he would not put his hand up for the role.
