Judith Collins speaks after National Party caucus meeting: 'Onwards and upwards'

Tuesday, 20 October 2020, 2:29 pm
Article: RNZ

Judith Collins is giving a media briefing after the National Party's first caucus meeting since the election, which returned their worst result in years.

The party, which last term had 54 seats, finished with just 35 seats due to their much lower party vote, some 21 fewer.

Collins spoke shortly after 2pm. Watch here:

Collins says there is no economic plan from the government and that is what they will be focused on in opposition.

"It's onwards and upwards for us and we are determined to be the best opposition ever."

"I'm really positive about our way forward ... I particularly relish the opportunity to hold the government to account."

She says it is "very sad" to farewell so many caucus members, and the party has talked about the review the National Party is undertaking as well as the campaign itself.

"We're very sorry to see them go," she says about the MPs who will be departing after the election result.

She says there was no self-pity from the MPs who were departing, and while it was a sad occassion there were also moments of humour.

"Adversity is a time to show character, and I saw immense character today."

Decisions about portfolios will be made after the special votes are returned, she says. The party will also not be throwing away the policy discussion work Simon Bridges started, saying that was very useful and will continue to be.

She says she has asked the caucus to be a part of the review of the campaign, which the party carries out after each election.

"They'll be mostly listening ... it was a very, very constructive caucus meeting," she says.

She admits there are some things she thinks she could have done better, but "that's the nature of the beast".

The review will not be once over lightly, she says, and will be a good opportunity to review the party's constitution.

Collins has continually said she was happy in her role as leader and would not want to change it, although that is a matter for the party.

Collins has also previously admitted that having three leaders in four months leading up to the election was not a good look.

Bridges, who was leader after Bill English resigned following the 2017 election until May this year, said he supported Collins "100 percent".

Collins would not say if her deputy Gerry Brownlee, who was also the campaign manager, should stay or go after losing his Ilam seat over the weekend to Labour's Sarah Pallett.

Brownlee this afternoon said he was looking forward to being part of the review process. He said Christchurch needed a National presence and as of the election that would not be the case.

Collins said the party was working on a buddy system for new MPs to show them the ropes, and it was very important because Parliament could be a lonely place.

National's longest-serving MP Nick Smith, who first entered Parliament in 1990, lost his Nelson seat to Labour's Rachel Boyack.

Smith said decisions would not be made until the special votes were counted.

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