2020 election results: Gerry Brownlee gives up his seat at Ilam in Christchurch after 24 years of holding it

Gerry Brownlee has awarded Ilam, a seat he has held for 24 years.

The leading deputy of the National Party thanked his family for the support provided during his political career.

He said he does not regret handing over the leadership before the last elections. He said tonight was a “vote of confidence” in Ardern’s leadership.

Sarah Pallett, a midwifery teacher, got ahead early in her career.

He has more than 2,100 votes ahead of him after more than two-thirds of the votes (70.3 percent) have been counted.

Brownlee, who spearheaded the rebuilding of the city by the John Key government after the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, has served as a Member of Parliament for Ilam since 1996.

Tonight, the former woodworking school teacher and campaign chairman arrived at National’s campaign headquarters in central Christchurch.

Brownlee humbly told One News that he “has no regrets.”

“Oh well, you know it’s democracy, right?” He said.

“You state your words and the voters make their decision.”

He said “no one has a mortgage on their seat.”

Brownlee struggled to answer what went wrong, but admitted he probably didn’t campaign as much as usual.

He cited the example of former Australian Prime Minister John Howard who lost his seat, adding that “it is not unusual.”

“In the end, it was the voters’ choice.”

He didn’t think things had gone wrong for National, but instead once the national Covid-19 lockdown returned in March, his polling station “took a virtual 180-degree turn,” and the Labor Party got a boost.

Subsequently, former Deputy National Director Nikki Kaye paid tribute to Brownlee and her work.

“My personal opinion is that Gerry is a magnificent MP,” he told One News.

Tonight, Brownlee has repeatedly referenced the global Covid-19 pandemic as one of the main reasons for the Labor boom this year.

And speaking to NZME in Christchurch, as the shock rolled in, he made a remarkable concession.

In uncertain times, people often seek stability, he said, and that’s where what he described as Jacinda Ardern’s “extraordinary efforts” “have made quite a different change.”

But at the same time, he believed that Judith Collins had done “a fantastic job in the three months that she had the opportunity to campaign” and believes that she will be “a good leader in the future.”

At the Labor Party headquarters in Christchurch, Pallett was not getting ahead of herself, despite having a commanding lead.

“It’s really the early days,” he told NZME.

She paid tribute to an entire team that had worked hard to try and remove Brownlee’s seat.

But he was aware that there was a long way to go.

“We don’t count our chickens,” he said.

“We’re keeping our heads and we’re really excited about what we’re seeing so far.”