Barry Soper: Bill English needs to stamp his brand on prime ministership

A changing of the guard at Parliament today is only the beginning for Bill English. He takes over as Prime Minister but takes on what will be the old guard as he sets about the unenviable task of rejuvenating this third term Government.

There are the obvious slots that he can fit the up and comers into with Hekia Parata leaving at the next election and with Murray McCully saying he'd only stay on in Parliament as Foreign Minister as long as John Key wanted him the job.

The likes of the trouble plagued Sam Lotu-Iiga, Craig Foss and Louise Upston will be looking over their shoulders. And Bill English will no doubt agonise over whether his close buddy and the last member of his 1990 so called Brat Pack Nick Smith will get to keep his job. English stood by his tearful side, singing his praises, as Smith resigned from Cabinet almost five years ago after he became involved supporting a friend in an ACC dispute. He was reinstated to Cabinet the following year.

Becoming Prime Minister isn't for the feint hearted though and English needs to stamp his brand, and it can't be insipid, on the team he'll take into next year's election.

English is the chalk and he'll be joined in that decision making process by his cheesy deputy Paula Bennett who'll be endorsed today following the withdrawal over the weekend of Simon Bridges from the race.

It's a big step up for the proud Westie who began teenage life as a solo mum on a benefit and who four and a half years ago married a former truckie she met years before as a waitress in a diner, in a ceremony on a Piha beach with a fish and chips wedding breakfast.

After what's expected to be a raucous caucus is over, the shock jock John Key will head up to see the woman he appointed just a couple of months ago as Governor General Patsy Ready and tender his resignation.

After that he'll finally get to see what's in his blind trust, and who knows, he could be one of the reasons behind the Auckland housing boom, or alternatively he could be left looking for a day job, although that's highly unlikely.

He'll have plenty of time to contemplate his future though as he wings his way to his Hawaiian holiday house tomorrow, no doubt feeling relieved that he won't have to make the heart rending decisions that he's left Bill English to grapple with.