National rules out working with the NZ First Party

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Forums › Politics › National rules out working with the NZ First Party

frednz

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#265640 2-Feb-2020 15:23

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12305301

From the above:

National leader Simon Bridges has ruled out any post-election deal with NZ First - the first big move of his year.

Bridges said today it was clear that a vote for NZ First was a vote for Labour and the Greens - and he wanted voters to have certainty when they cast their votes.

"I don't believe we can work with NZ First and have a constructive, trusting relationship," he told reporters in Hawke's Bay.

"Our decisions will be about what's best for New Zealanders, not what's best for NZ First."

Well, I wonder if this may be the end for NZ First? At last, people who vote for National know that NZ First won't be involved in any coalition agreement with National. This is a big move and could result in National winning the election.

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#2411569 2-Feb-2020 15:34

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/119215711/simon-bridges-rules-out-working-with-nz-first-after-election

From the above:

NZ First leader Winston Peters said he was "unfazed" by the decision and expected other National MPs in Bridges' caucus would want to work with him.

"The one thing New Zealand First is confident about is that if voters deliver that possibility [of a Government between NZ First and National], and if Mr Bridges doesn't pick up the phone, someone else within his caucus will do it for him," Peters said.

'Let me say this – he's got a lot to learn about politics. Narrowing your options can be the worst strategic move you will ever make."

"As Douglas McArthur said, there'll come a time soon when he'll when want to see me much more than I want to see him."

A rather interesting reply from Peters!

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GV27

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#2411577 2-Feb-2020 16:07

I love Winston quoting MacArthur. There's so many layers of irony there.

OldGeek

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#2411810 3-Feb-2020 10:13

Simon leads a party that polls consistently above 45%. Winston leads a party that consistently polls under 7.5%. Simon would rather be leader of the opposition than PM with Winston as his deputy. Arguably the next election may be Winston's last (and not by choice). If the next election is Simon's last it will be by choice.

What Winston thinks about Simon's choice is irrelevant while Simon leads National.

--

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MikeB4

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#2411899 3-Feb-2020 13:40

The smartest decision that Bridges has made to date.

frednz

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#2411969 3-Feb-2020 16:20

MikeB4:

The smartest decision that Bridges has made to date.

Yes it probably is and it makes you wonder why Bill English went into lengthy coalition talks with Winston when it was a foregone conclusion that NZ First would go with Labour.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/408713/simon-bridges-says-caucus-backs-him-on-ruling-out-new-zealand-first-move

It's mentioned in the above article that:

"...New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said he was "unfazed", and suggested that if National needed New Zealand First and Bridges didn't call him then another member of the National caucus would."

This article explains that Simon has the full support of the National Party and that:

"We're not doing what the New Zealand First has suggested, we won't be picking up the phone, we won't be seeking to work with them in any shape or form. "And I think what's important about that are the reasons, I can't trust them and I don't think New Zealanders can."

All Simon has to do now is to rule out any possible talks with the Green Party as they are so strongly in favour of being with Labour. Anyone who votes for the Greens should be left in no doubt that they are in effect voting for a Labour coalition.

Varkk

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#2412223 4-Feb-2020 08:39

I would have thought that the Green Party itself stating so many times in the past would let people know. It never does seem to shut up talk of a Blue-Green Coalition from certain sectors however.

networkn

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#2412248 4-Feb-2020 09:21

I agree with Simon Bridges stance. NZF has shown time and time again it's not interested in what's best for NZ, but rather what's best for Winston Peters.

GV27

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#2412273 4-Feb-2020 09:55

frednz:

in effect voting for a Labour coalition.

...that can't happen without NZ First. I would love to see the Green party members continue to forbid working with National when it dooms them to being a prop for NZ First.

frednz

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#2412501 4-Feb-2020 15:17

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/119260930/winston-peters-lays-down-a-challenge-to-simon-bridges-you-looking-for-trouble-youve-come-to-the-right-place

From the above:

Bridges on Sunday ruled NZ First out of any post-election coalition negotiations. The move put pressure on Peters election strategy, which has historically been based on working with either National or Labour after the election.

Bridges later rejected the claim that he had brought politics to Waitangi.

"Labour, the Greens, and NZ First are keen to shut that down because they don't want to answer hard questions," he said.

It's been a hard week for Winston particularly as the donations saga is still in the news:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/408785/wealthy-and-powerful-nz-first-foundation-donors-revealed

frednz

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#2412525 4-Feb-2020 15:47

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/opinion/barry-soper-why-simon-bridges-was-wrong-to-kick-nz-first-to-touch/

Short extract from the above:

Bridges insists it was his call to refuse to work with Winston Peters and claims his party is, to a person, happy and relieved by his decision not to work with NZ First "in any way, shape or form".

But Barry Soper thinks that:

"The National leader has jumped the gun, declaring his hand way too soon."

The article also mentions that:

"Currently, Bridges has just one option, with just one MP, thanks to an ongoing soft deal with Act in the Epsom seat.

And that's what MMP is all about, whether we like it or not: It's cutting deals.

It's as though Bridges has rejected MMP, believing National will be first past the post with 51 percent of the vote at the coming election, something no party has achieved since the electoral system came into being in 1996.

So Labour has now been given plenty of time sharpen it's electoral pencil, doing the sums in Northland, a seat Peters lost at the last election."

So, has Bridges "jumped the gun" when it's been obvious for ages that Winston and National could never work together?

Fred99

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#2412610 4-Feb-2020 19:30

networkn:

I agree with Simon Bridges stance. NZF has shown time and time again it's not interested in what's best for NZ, but rather what's best for Winston Peters.

I'm not even slightly convinced Simon Bridges has demonstrated that he's interested in what's best for NZ. To balance it out, I'm not convinced that he's aware that much of what he says and does isn't for the best for Simon Bridges either.

networkn

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#2412612 4-Feb-2020 19:38

Fred99:

networkn:

I agree with Simon Bridges stance. NZF has shown time and time again it's not interested in what's best for NZ, but rather what's best for Winston Peters.

I'm not even slightly convinced Simon Bridges has demonstrated that he's interested in what's best for NZ. To balance it out, I'm not convinced that he's aware that much of what he says and does isn't for the best for Simon Bridges either.

What a surprise!

Fred99

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#2412648 4-Feb-2020 20:09

networkn:

Fred99:

networkn:

I agree with Simon Bridges stance. NZF has shown time and time again it's not interested in what's best for NZ, but rather what's best for Winston Peters.

I'm not even slightly convinced Simon Bridges has demonstrated that he's interested in what's best for NZ. To balance it out, I'm not convinced that he's aware that much of what he says and does isn't for the best for Simon Bridges either.

What a surprise!

Is it? I thought I'd been pretty consistent in my opposition to hysterical social conservatives and authoritarians.

frednz

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#2412817 5-Feb-2020 09:02

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/tense-times-at-waitangi-after-simon-bridges-rules-out-working-with-winston-peters.html

From the above:

When asked if hypothetically he would step aside as leader if National relied on NZ First to get into Government following the election and the rest of the party was prepared to cut a deal, Bridges denied that was an option.

"It's not going to happen," he said, adding that when he told the board and individual MPs of the plan to distance National from Peters there was "spontaneous applause" and "unanimous agreement".

"It's this simple - if Winston Peters or some other New Zealand First leader calls me I'm not answering the call and I won't be making the call to them."

So, there we are, Bridges has again made it clear that NZ First is no longer an option. So, this seems to leave the balance of power with the Green Party, who if they were granted more freedom by National to act than they have now, might this be appealing to them? How about James Shaw as Deputy Prime Minister under a National Party coalition, surely this might have some appeal, even to a party "as far left" as the Greens?

GV27

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#2412842 5-Feb-2020 09:34

frednz:

So, there we are, Bridges has again made it clear that NZ First is no longer an option. So, this seems to leave the balance of power with the Green Party, who if they were granted more freedom by National to act than they have now, might this be appealing to them? How about James Shaw as Deputy Prime Minister under a National Party coalition, surely this might have some appeal, even to a party "as far left" as the Greens?

The Green Party defer to their members, who didn't want them dealing with National last time.

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