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Mark Mitchell and Stuart Nash: Is Simon Bridges' time as leader up?

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 May 2020, 10:59AM
National leader Simon Bridges has had a tough week. (Photo / File)
National leader Simon Bridges has had a tough week. (Photo / File)

Mark Mitchell and Stuart Nash: Is Simon Bridges' time as leader up?

Author
Newstalk ZB staff,
Publish Date
Wed, 20 May 2020, 10:59AM

Simon Bridges' stint as National party leader hangs in the balance after he revealed two MPs, understood to be Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye, will challenge for the National Party leadership and deputy leadership respectively at the party's caucus next Tuesday.

It follows Labour's massive support (56.5 per cent) in this week's political poll - and National's demise (30.6 per cent) - on the back of the way the Government has handled the Covid crisis.

Bridges told Mike Hosking he would not confirm Muller or Kaye's names, saying they deserved the dignity of announcing their own challenge.

National MPs Judith Collins and Mark Mitchell - two earlier speculated names - told the NZ Herald and Newstalk ZB they were not challenging.

Mitchell will be standing by his leader, and says he is not one of the two MPs who are challenging the leadership of Bridges and deputy Paula Bennett.

Mitchell says Bridges has shown a huge amount of resilience over the past two and a half years, has enormous self-belief and is a smart guy.

He says he pledged his loyalty to Bridges when he became leader and says he'll keep it.

Mitchell add he knows who is vying for the leadership of the Party but says it is up to them to make public comments.

There will be a vote on the matter at a caucus meeting on Tuesday.

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