Simon Bridges has denied he'll be pushed out or step down as National leader, saying today he'll lead the Opposition in the election later this year.
Reports emerged last week that some National MPs were questioning Mr Bridges' leadership after backlash to his social media post criticising the Government's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Bridges today brushed off questions from reporters about his leadership.
"Yes, absolutely (I will lead National at the election), that's quite clear, I'm focussed on things New Zealanders are focussed on," he said.
"We've flattened the curve, we don't want to flatten the economy.
“I’m hearing from so many businesses who feel that way, who understand Covid-19, but also won’t be here at Budget if they don't get the support they need from the Government.
“I make no excuses for what I’ve said. I would say it again, because this has gone on for too long,” Mr Bridges said in reference to his criticism of Government.
The Opposition Leader said he's never received so many emails during Covid-19. (Source: Other)
He said internal polling was done regularly, but “we don’t discuss those matters in public”.
Mr Bridges also didn’t answer whether MPs would be concerned about what they saw if internal polling is revealed
“I’m not going to get distracted from the job at hand right now.”
There’s a good chance that Bridges will ride out these leadership questions as he has done before, Jessica Mutch McKay reports. (Source: Other)
“I think we live in a country where there are many people who have received the wage subsidy and been at home and have rightly absorbed the health messages and feel strongly about that," he said in response to the public’s criticism.
“But, it’s also true that right now there are tens of thousands of businesses who are frustrated who feel that no one’s got their corner.”
While some people may not think the lockdown had gone too long, businesses had been “emailing me and contacting me like I've never seen in my professional career”, he said.
He said the party was focusing on discussing how to kick-start the economy after Covid-19, and how to do this safely.
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