What numbers for English?
I’ve been tracking public endorsements of MPs on the leadership. So far no National MP has said they are voting for Jonathan Coleman or Judith Collins. That does not mean they have no support – just that their supporters are not publicly saying what they will do.
Bill English has had a number of MPs say they will be voting for him. If he gets to 30 (including himself), then it is basically all over. So who are the public endorsements to date:
- John Key
- Bill English
- Nikki Kaye
- Michael Woodhouse
- Nathan Guy
- Nick Smith
- Anne Tolley
- Louise Upston
- Hekia Parata
- Murray McCully
- Simon Bridges
- Nuk Korako
- Sarah Dowie
- Chester Borrows
- Paul Foster-Bell
- Paula Bennett
- Brett Hudson
- Jacqui Dean
- Jami-Lee Ross
- Todd Muller
- Amy Adams
- Chris Bishop
- Jo Hayes
- Mark Mitchell
- Chris Finlayson
- Jonathan Young
- Todd Barclay
- Alfred Ngaro
- Jono Naylor
- Barbara Kuriger
- Gerry Brownlee
- Jian Yang
So English is at 32 confirmed votes.
Note this is based on public statements and media reports only. It is not a predictor of how MPs who have not stated a preference will vote.
I’ll update the list as and if any more MPs state a public preference.
Update: Bill English now has 30 31 32 votes pledged to him in public and is the presumptive Prime Minister.