December 01, 2021
National spirit lifted by Luxon
A good day for the National Party is how former Northcote MP Dan Bidois describes the resolution of the party’s leadership crisis.
Christopher Luxon was confirmed in the role yesterday after rival Simon Bridges withdrew his nomination an hour before MPs met to choose a replacement for Judith Collins.
The party’s housing spokesperson, Nicola Willis, won the contest for deputy leader, replacing Shane Reti.
While Mr Luxon was the party’s Māori development spokesperson, he was almost invisible in that role, with the media focus being more on his leadership aspirations.
Mr Bidois says the fact Mr Luxon is a first time MP who has never held a ministerial role is an advantage.
“People want to see a new and refreshed National. So what Christopher lacks in political experience he makes up for with business experience – he’s got a successful business career at Air New Zealand and before that the multinational Unilever, and I think he’s got to offer the party and hopefully the country as prime minister,” he says.
Mr Bidois says while Christopher Luxon is to the party’s socially conservative right, Nicola Willis is considered more liberal.