Claire Trevett: The bogan and the Roman Catholic

National will go to the polls with Bill English and Paula Bennett. Photos / Mark Mitchell and Andrew Warner

Just six days after John Key resigned, National's new leadership team has been sorted.

The blood letting was minimal - more a slight graze than a slash.

The leadership position was squared after after a day long faux contest between Bill English, Jonathan Coleman and Judith Collins. English had it sewn up the moment John Key said he would vote for him.

The battle for deputy was more genuine and took longer - Bridges was understood to have about 20 votes, but knew he could not make it to the 30 he needed. Many MPs were genuinely conflicted.

He folded gracefully rather than take it to the vote, even though he would not necessarily have been embarrassed by it.

National will go to the polls with English and Bennett. Much has been made of their polarities - man and woman, Aucklander and South Islander, quiet and loud, solo mum and family man, bogan and Roman Catholic.

But they have a respect for each other which has served them well. Bennett is often underestimated because of her gregarious nature. English and Key have both recognised what she is capable of and worked to ready her for leadership.

Bennett has become more gun shy since a series of blunders in her housing portfolio. But she has strong political instincts - she is a long-standing former staffer and friend of Murray McCully and you can not be associated with McCully for years without learning something.

Caucus has had it drummed into them that descending into chaos and disunity will only double the damage to their electoral chances of Key's departure.

So soon after Bridges' folded his core supporters Todd McClay and Todd Muller were tweeting their loyalty to the English - Bennett pairing, while acknowledging Bridges for putting his name up.

English knows his reshuffle has to address questions caucus is now asking about the longevity of some ministers, and recognising the ambition of others.

But sespite the talk of backbench revolts and schisms in caucus, it has been little other than people jostling for advantage. The calm waters had returned.

There will be a show of unity on Monday when Key formally steps down and English takes his place as Prime Minister.

But the biggest motivator of discipline is not the leader - it is the polls. Caucus will stay quiet at least as long as the polls remain strong enough for National that a fourth term is possible.