Editorial: Two years to rebuild the National Party

Judith Collins says she is pleased to be 'just the MP for Papakura' after losing the National Party leadership on Thursday. Photo / Mark Mitchell, File

EDITORIAL

With at least six potential contenders, the National Party leadership should be filled by a worthy successor after the spectacular fall of Judith Collins.

Christopher Luxon, Simon Bridges, Mark Mitchell, Shane Reti, Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis have all been named as confirmed or possibly wanting the role and all have merits.

Most will have supporters hitting the speed-dial buttons this weekend in attempts to rally backing ahead of Tuesday's caucus. A couple of the contenders will fold into leader-deputy partnerships.

There will be some awkward conversations. The party has been battered by the failed brinkmanship from Collins this week after four frustrating years in Opposition.

The new leader will have a Herculean task to pull together a party which hasn't seen unity in years. Collins' continued presence in the backbenches won't help.

Bridges has the experience but also the baggage as an ousted leader; Luxon has the business chops but not the political experience; Mitchell has vied for the role twice but still lacks public recognition; Willis ticks many of the boxes but helped install Collins; Bishop is a battler but hasn't yet mastered how to measure his words; and Reti is a solid party performer but was also Collins' hand-picked deputy.

Collins' departure well before the 2023/24 election was tipped by most commentators, either just before or just after this summer break. In her single-handed attempt to demote Bridges as he mustered the numbers, she set the timing.

Despite current polling, the right leader who can make the best use of the next two years could give the party a real tilt at the ninth floor of the Beehive.