PM Christopher Luxon walks back claim five National MPs ‘frustrated’ at his leadership

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is walking back his comments today that there are five National MPs “moaning and frustrated” about Luxon’s leadership and the party’s polling.

Luxon, speaking at his post-Cabinet press conference, claimed he had been referring to the number of sources referenced in the Herald’s article which reported National whip Stuart Smith had unsuccessfully tried to contact Luxon before Easter, about flagging support within the caucus.

It comes ahead of National’s caucus meeting tomorrow morning at Parliament, where Luxon has promised to reinforce the need to be unified and disciplined ahead of this year’s election.

The National leader has faced weeks of speculation his leadership is at risk, in light of a series of public polls putting the party at or below 30%, and low popularity for Luxon as prime minister.

The Herald’s report on Friday cited multiple National sources about Smith’s attempt to contact Luxon about the feeling in caucus.

Luxon could not be contacted by Smith at the time, though the pair later met in north Canterbury. Smith has not commented publicly on the matter.

Asked on Newstalk ZB this morning about the article, Luxon said he had read it and admitted “there’ll be a handful of people who’d understandably be disgruntled”.

He said there were five “that are moaning and frustrated”.

“Of people that I could think that could possibly be talking to media about their frustrations, that’s all I’m saying,” Luxon said earlier today.

Asked at this afternoon’s press conference who the five MPs were, Luxon maintained he was simply reacting to media reports.

“My comment was just in reaction to your media reporting quoting a number of sources that you said you had, that’s as much as it is,” he said.

“There’s nothing in the number per se.”

He reiterated he had the “full support” of his caucus.

Luxon said he hadn’t yet spoken with Smith since last week’s reporting, arguing Smith would have raised it with him if it was pressing.

He appeared to acknowledge the existence of a letter from Smith, saying he was “not aware of the letter”.

However, Luxon later indicated he had mistakenly heard a letter being referenced in a reporter’s question.

While Luxon said he wouldn’t discuss caucus matters, he confirmed a conversation would be had during tomorrow morning’s meeting about recent media speculation and the need to remain unified.

He continued to bat away questions concerning his level of popularity in public polls.

“I appreciate I’m not going to be the person that everyone wants to go to a beer with but they know that I’m actually leading a Government that’s a great custodian of this economy.”

Education Minister and senior National MP Erica Stanford, who was fronting the press conference alongside Luxon, said she had had no contact with anyone from caucus about the party’s leadership.

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.