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Mark Mitchell committed to supporting Judith Collins as leader

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 20 Oct 2020, 9:53AM
Mark Mitchell. (Photo / NZ Herald)
Mark Mitchell. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Mark Mitchell committed to supporting Judith Collins as leader

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Tue, 20 Oct 2020, 9:53AM

National will be reviewing the election today, but National MP Mark Mitchell says that shouldn't include a leadership change.

They're gathering in Wellington today after suffering its worst election result since 2002.

Preliminary results give the party 35 seats ... losing 19.

Mark Mitchell will return after winning the Whangaparaoa electorate.

The National MP, who previously had a tilt at the leadership, gave his unqualified backing to Collins saying his dreams of being the leader were buried.

"We're not focused on any change in leadership, we're one hundred per cent behind the leader, we've got a lot of other work to do and other things to focus on and that is namely getting organised, getting back into Parliament and holding the government to account," he said.

He told Mike Hosking it would be a difficult day in the caucus room with 20 politicians losing their jobs at the weekend.

"It's going to be a very sombre mood today without a doubt because we're going to farewell 20 of our colleagues."

But now more than ever was the time to have united caucus.

"We just had a really tough three years really and it's a chance for us to reset and do our job as an Opposition."

He said the National Party would be working closely with Act in the next Parliament to provide a strong Opposition.

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