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National’s health spokesperson, Dr. Shane Reti, announced the party’s health policy in Wellington in September. Photo / Mark Mitchell
The recently defeated, but still high-profile, National health spokesman Shane Reti is the favorite among his colleagues to replace Gerry Brownlee as deputy leader of the party next week.
Brownlee, who lost his seat in the Ilam electorate in the elections, said today that he will not seek re-election as deputy leader when the Caucus meets on Tuesday.
Instead, he said he would focus on rebuilding National’s base in Christchurch.
“It’s time to think about the next three years. I want Judith [Collins] have the strongest and most complementary support by your side as a leader, “he said.
When it comes to his replacement, there was only one name on the lips of the National Party MPs: Reti.
This despite the fact that Reti lost his Whangārei seat in today’s special voting by 431 votes.
Several national MPs said the Herald Reti was the clear choice to replace Brownlee.
One MP said Reti was Collins’ first choice for MP.
“The only question is whether or not there will be a contest [the deputy job]”said the MP.
Another said, going through the caucus, that there weren’t many options.
But Reti was the one that came to mind, they said.
Several outgoing MPs also said the Herald Reti was the obvious choice.
“My pick: 90 percent will be Shane Reti,” said one. “He is the obvious choice.”
“He was one of the few who performed well during the election campaign,” said another, adding that he had established respect within National Party circles, as well as throughout Parliament.
Brownlee’s departure from the leadership position was not unexpected.
He did not commit when previously asked if he wanted to stay at work.
Collins said shortly after the election that she and Brownlee had received the “hospital pass from hell.”
Brownlee said today: “While I was proud to intervene at the time, and I still am, I have always believed that influence is more important than position when it comes to politics.”
He said New Zealand was facing tough times.
“For some time, the coronavirus and the consequences of responding to it, along with the importance of keeping its effects away from our shores, will be the dominant activities for both the Government and the Opposition.”
After special votes were cast today, National lost two deputies and three seats were flipped.
Whangārei, Maungakiekie and Northland have gone to the Labor Party, which means that the MPs from the last two constituencies, Denise Lee and Matt King, are out of Parliament.
King is asking for a recount.