National Leader Judith Collins is confident she will maintain the lead in this morning’s caucus vote

National leader Judith Collins is confident that she will win the leadership vote at a meeting of MPs this morning, but remains silent about her MP preference.

Speaking to the media before the meeting, Collins said he believed the party was happy with his leadership.

“I think the caucus is very happy with what I have been doing, but also the party needs stability and must move forward.”

According to the party constitution, the caucus votes on the leadership after each election.

Collins is not expected to be challenged, but current deputy director Gerry Brownlee said last week that he would not submit his name to remain in office.

Collins has previously said that she and Brownlee had been given the “hospital pass from hell” and only agreed to be the leader after the group asked them to.

Health spokesperson Shane Reti is the frontrunner for the MP job, but it is understood that Michael Woodhouse was also considering submitting his name for the job.

Collins wouldn’t be attracted to who she wants as her assistant.

“My choice would be whoever offers the caucus.”

Nor would Brownlee, who was in the media, stand up with her.

He said he was not expelled, but did not say whether he planned to run for re-election in 2023.

Several MPs also endorsed the work Brownlee had done in his time as a MP.

Senior whip Barbara Kuriger said Brownlee had taken over as deputy at a time when the party needed someone with experience.

“I don’t think he had any long-term ambitions to be a deputy again, but he stepped in and we support him. I respect his decision now to retire.”

The senior deputy, Mark Mitchell, who was once a leadership candidate, told the media that he would not run for deputy leadership.

Like Todd McClay, who told the media that he was happy to support Reti.

“I think he is absolutely the right person for the job. He resonates with New Zealanders, has a very good command of important political areas and has the respect of the caucus.”

He said Gerry Brownlee worked very hard and had a lot of respect for him.

Chris Bishop would not say who he supported as a deputy, but he ruled out presenting his name himself.

When asked if he had leadership ambitions, he said no. He said his ambition was to win back the Hutt South electorate that he had won in 2017 but lost in 2020.

He said he ruled out any challenge to leadership.

This morning, the Herald reported that Collins was looking to split the financial portfolio between Simon Bridges and Andrew Bayly.

She wouldn’t be attracted to this, but neither would she deny it, saying “there will be surprises.”

But that’s all she would do: “everything that happens in the caucus, stays in the caucus.”

Former Northland MP Matt King, who lost his seat in the final count, said he was very sad to go, but that “100 percent” would be trying to get re-elected in 2023, if re-elected.

The former police officer chose not to conduct a recount in Northland because he was told it was unlikely to be successful.

“Interestingly, I lost by 163 votes and I heard about 200 votes came out of Ngawha prison. I put some of those guys there so probably none of them are mine.”

Maureen Pugh, who survived National’s bottom line because the Northland and Maungakiekie seats had fallen to Labor, said she was surprised.

He had already packed his office and apartment before heading home, and had to spend the weekend moving again.

He did not say who he was endorsing as a deputy, but he also endorsed Brownlee at the time and did not believe he made mistakes. “In the situation we were in, there was a lot of tension and Gerry served us quite well.”