Brigitte Morton: political commentator on Prime Minister Chris Luxon surviving another confidence vote

It was a big week in Parliament, with Luxon facing another leadership challenge ahead of the election.

The Prime Minister held on to his leadership role, Minister Chris Penk was stripped of his portfolios - but speculation's growing about what this means for National. 

Political commentator Brigitte Morton says it's a 'messy' look for the Government, and it's likely there will be some damage as a result of this.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudkin
from News Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's time to talk politics and I'm joined by a
political commentator, Bridget Morton. Good morning, Bridget, good morning. Okay,
So recently Christopher Luxen had been more confident, his performances
had been improving, and then there was just one bad
week and it seems like one or more members of
his party pounced. What did you make of this week?

Speaker 3 (00:32):
Well, I think it's a pressure cooker. You know, we're
sitting at eighty something days out from the election. On
current polling, a number of Luxein's caucus will lose their seats.
A number of them will be also contemplating whether they're losing. Also,
being mega minister, it's a first term minister. I think
for many of them that there is a real level
of concern. So anything that kind of goes, you know,

(00:55):
off message or off piece actually does sort of create
a little bit of a bigger ISO's reaction than what
may be rational or maybe asked we would have expected.

Speaker 2 (01:05):
So what damage has it done?

Speaker 3 (01:07):
I think there is sort of the key damages. Of course,
anytime you're talking about yourselves and not talking about what
matters to voters and you know, costs of living in
the economy, the key things that people are saying over
and over again that they need government actioning on. You know,
that is where the key damage is. Of course, it
also looks messye. I think you know, you look at

(01:27):
every opinion piece this week, the weekend opinion papers are
almost all talking about this leadership debacle and also how
you know that will affect National They're not talking about
other issues, So I think there is going to be
some damage there. The key thing is is lux and
going to be able to really demonstrate that he's not

(01:48):
going to make some of those same mistakes he made
in the previous couple of weeks, you know, with the
sort of renewed energy.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
And if we do look forward, what does National now
need to do. I mean, as you said, it's about
not focusing on ourselves and focusing on the election and
actually completing the parliamentary.

Speaker 3 (02:07):
Yeah, and there's a big work program that they want
to get through before the end of the parliamentary term.
We've basically got sort of a month's worth of sitting
left to get through some pretty major pieces of legislation.
Key things that were part of the delivery, the key
ones I think probably being the rm A reform bills.
I think that's been a key part of their platform.
So for them, they need to look like they've got

(02:28):
that well managed, that they're disciplined, and that they're focused
on actually getting that through. I think also, you know,
there's been a lot of noise and a lot of
discussion about what's sort of happening in politics, but ultimately
we know that campaigning actually means being on the doorsteps.
It means being out where the voters are, and I
think you need to see that sort of renewed energy
I think from National mpace to really go back and

(02:50):
reconnect with as many voters as possible.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
I just would I would like your thoughts on this.
Though we've seen Chris Bishop, he has spoken to the
media and he's kind of put it to bed Erica
Stanford is kind of actively avoiding the media. Is that
a good idea?

Speaker 1 (03:03):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
I think it's always tricky, I think in the circumstances
to know what to say, because every sort of sort
of word you use or don't use, I think it's
pounced on. And you saw that, particularly when you saw
the sort of live videoing of every MP as they
came through Wellington Airport on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning,
and you know whether or not Stanford silence there was

(03:24):
a sign of something or not a sign of something.
So we do think it's really triggy to navigate. I
think it is better to just actually make one clear statement,
make it forth right, and then you move on. And
I think you've actually seen Luxeon do that this week.
He has made his quite short statement following the caucus vote,
but since then he has actually reiterrated many times at

(03:46):
every press conference at actually he's there to talk about
what the announcement is or what the voters are asking about.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
Bridget To Party Maria are launching their election campaign today
and Gisbon where are they at as a party? They
say that they've moved on from all the chaos. Do
you think that's the case.

Speaker 3 (04:03):
Well, ultimately, they've still got two MPs that are now
running is independence or ones running under a party brand
that is not theirs, So they still have a level
of dysfunction that they didn't have going into the last election.
I think what we've also seen is that they haven't
got a lot of media or a lot of pack

(04:23):
up in the last couple of months. Of course, it's
quite difficult, I think with the Maldi electorates to really
accurately kind of pull them. But I think there'll be
a number of people worried in that party about whether
or not they've still got the moment and behind them,
and whether they could actually lose some of their seats,
not just to mighta Manda Kapa Key who looks like
she might retain her seat, but also back to labor

(04:44):
that would be.

Speaker 2 (04:44):
Interesting to see. Well, there is a lot of noise
out there, Bridget. It's quite hard to cut through, isn't
it in the political area.

Speaker 3 (04:51):
Yeah, absolutely, But I mean this is election time. Every
election there's this and every sort of little mistake, little
sort of word that a politicians has always much more
absolutely amplified during an election.

Speaker 2 (05:03):
Love you to talk to your Bridget. Enjoy the rest
of your Sunday, Thanks so much for your time.

Speaker 1 (05:07):
For more from the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
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