Matthew Hooton: Simon Bridges was ‘the most unpopular high-level political figure in the English-speaking world’

A former adviser to former National Party leader Todd Muller says Judith Collins should have been promoted to leadership earlier and calls Simon Bridges the “most unpopular high-ranking political figure in the English-speaking world.”

Political commentator Matthew Hooton was one of Muller’s first advocates to roll Bridges, after a horrific Colmar Brunton poll in May showed the party had dropped to just 29 percent in support.

Muller was successful in his coup, but his tenure lasted only 53 days before he resigned for mental health reasons, paving the way for Judith Collins to take over.

However, the low poll numbers have not recovered, with Colmar Brunton’s latest poll placing National just one point above the May poll, at 31 percent, behind Labor’s 48 percent.

Hooton, who took on an advisory role with Muller, told Heather du Plessis-Allan of Newstalk ZB that he has no regrets for endorsing Muller.

He said it was necessary to replace Bridges, as the private vote was worse than the public one.

“Bridges was literally the most unpopular high-level political figure in the English-speaking world. The public decided they didn’t want him to be prime minister.”

Muller was the only possible candidate in May, Hooton said. It revealed that Collins and Muller attempted to roll Bridges in April 2019, with Collins as lead and Muller as deputy, but were unable to get the numbers.

Hooton served as Muller’s advisor, describing him as a “primary friend.” Despite that, Hooton was unaware of Muller’s deteriorating mental health as a leader.

He says Muller started having panic attacks within days of becoming the Party’s new leader, but did not tell Hooton or the party’s chief of staff.

Calvary was “a real lesson for all of us, especially middle-aged men, as it is mental health week,” Hooton said.

“And he could have said he had these panic attacks, what the hell do I do, and we would have seen him go to his GP, and a week of Prozac and he’d be better,” he said.

When Collins took office, there was an offer for him to stay, but Hooton said he had nothing to do under the new leadership.

However, he denied that there was cold between them. In fact, Hooton said Collins is the right person for the job and Bridges should never have been in the position.

“She should have become leader when English retired. She should even possibly have become prime minister when Key retired.”

However, Hooton said that National’s secret poll shows that there is a segment of the population that loves Jacinda Ardern so much that if Judith Collins were too fooled, even National supporters would not vote blue.

“If they criticize Ardern too harshly, they will actually fall. There are other people who want her to get caught up in Ardern, but there are good reasons not to.”