Bridges’ many and varied positions on coalition with NZ First

Written By: - Date published: 12:48 pm, February 12th, 2020 - 18 comments
Categories: national, nz first, same old national, Simon Bridges, spin, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

Help my head hurts.

Just over a week ago Simon Bridges ruled out working with NZ First after the next election.  From Henry Cooke at Stuff:

National leader Simon Bridges has ruled out working with NZ First after this year’s election, telling voters he can’t trust the party.

Bridges’ move, announced at a caucus retreat in Havelock North, sets the stage for a no-holds barred election campaign between the three parties that make up the Government and National.

It echoes a move made by then-oppositon leader John Key ahead of the 2008 election, when he too ruled out working with NZ First.

Bridges said Kiwi voters deserved to have a clear choice between National and the coalition – and that a vote for NZ First was a vote for Labour and the Greens.

Then yesterday there appeared to be a softening of his position.  From Stuff:

National leader Simon Bridges won’t rule out working with Winston Peters and NZ First in the future and isn’t yet calling for him to stand down over the NZ First Foundation saga.

He is now calling on the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to confirm that she trusts Peters, in the wake of yesterday’s news that the the NZ First Foundation donations have been referred to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) by police.

Bridges also called on the SFO to make a decision on whether to investigate Peters before the election.

But Bridges stopped short of saying Ardern should stand Peters down during any investigation. 

Today we had all guns blazing Simon with a no way no how no time response.

Simon Bridges has completely ruled out working with New Zealand First for the upcoming election – or any future elections.

“No ifs, no buts, no time,” said National leader Bridges when probed by The AM Show host Duncan Garner. “I want to end this charade we’ve been in.”

Bridges said voters deserve to know what the situation is following allegations surrounding the New Zealand First Party and its donation practises.

On Monday, it was announced the Serious Fraud Office is weighing up whether to probe accusations the party is hiding donations in a slush fund.

What has changed?  Well nothing.  The SFO is still investigating the NZ First Foundation.  My initial impression is that what has happened is a cheeky circumvention of the existing law.  And it provides the country with a perfect opportunity to review electoral laws, hopefully free of the spin and histrionics that accompanied the last major attempt to invoke law reform.

Simon’s position is extraordinary.  If the test is that Simon will not work with a party implicated in a SFO investigation into the way it treats donations then he should stand down as leader.  It appears that he had more than a nodding acquaintance with what was happening when a donation to the National Party was packaged to avoid scrutiny.

If anyone can make sense of his statements concerning Coalition with NZ First please let me know.  A chocolate fish to whoever can reconcile these statements and show they are consistent.

18 comments on “Bridges’ many and varied positions on coalition with NZ First ”

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  1. Tony Veitch (not etc.) 1
    12 February 2020 at 1:09 pm

    Bugger you and your chocolate fish, Micky! Give us a fair go! Give us mortals a chance at winning the prize in a fair contest!

    I doubt if even Soimun could win your bloody chocolate fish!

    • mickysavage 1.1
      12 February 2020 at 1:15 pm

      Heh!

    • Ed1 1.2
      12 February 2020 at 1:43 pm

      Just a Tiny Bitch, I don't know this Soimun you refer to – perhaps you have been living under a Bridge and are just trying to give The Standard a name for poor manners . . .

      • David Mac 1.2.1
        13 February 2020 at 7:41 pm

        Yep, lets focus on what the guy is peddling, his butchering of the language requires a cheap shot that only draws chortles from those that wouldn't vote for him in a fit.

        Please don't judge me on the way I speak….Lets leave that shit for the right.

        Yes, when he says Simon, it sounds like Soimon, we know and it's about as funny as a drunk baby.

  2. Alice Tectonite 2
    12 February 2020 at 1:28 pm

    Bridges = consistently inconsistent

    (Possibly a contradiction, but that could be appropriate…)

  3. Chris T 3
    12 February 2020 at 1:29 pm

    Was he being asked whether he would rule them out in the future or National?

    As on AM this morning Garner kept flicking between the 2.

    Bridges is an idiot, but he isn't stupid enough to speak for future nat leaders.

    • Enough is Enough 3.1
      12 February 2020 at 1:37 pm

      Or in respect of future NZ First leaders.

      I would like it if all leaders said they would rule out working with NZ First. He has brought down the previous two governments he has been a part of and there is now a possibility he will get the hat trick.

      The day he has gone, politics wins. (And a Labour Green government will finally be able to create real change).

      • Incognito 3.1.1
        12 February 2020 at 1:39 pm

        Is ruling out working with Winston Peters equivalent to ruling out working with NZF?

        • Enough is Enough 3.1.1.1
          12 February 2020 at 1:46 pm

          In essence yes. They are unfortunately one in the same in my opinion.

          It would be interesting of Jacinda and Simon both ruled out being involved with NZ First lead by Winston as that would give the other NZ First MPs power they have never held before.

    • indiana 3.2
      12 February 2020 at 1:58 pm

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12307585

      Just take Jacinda's view…"Asked why she didn't say that yesterday, Ardern said: "I thought it was implicit in what I said."

  4. observer 4
    12 February 2020 at 3:54 pm

    The position changes because it is false. We all know that, including Simon.

    Imagine this scenario on election night.

    Nats+ ACT: 60

    Lab+Grn+NZF: 60

    We then wait 2 weeks for the real election result. And that's the only one that matters.

    National might get lucky and pick up a seat on special votes, or they might lose (in 2017 they lost two). So the obvious question (and equally obvious answer!) is "What would National do for those 2 weeks?". While everyone in the media is chattering and pontificating and speculating, what will National do?

    a) Sit in a sealed off bunker and say nothing. Refuse to answer the phone. Run away from every camera. Just cross their fingers and pray for an extra seat.

    b) Start talking to NZ First – very quietly, very privately, but … talking.

    They would talk. We know they would talk. Don't need to capitulate, don't need to offer Winston Deputy PM, just … talk. Here are their lines –

    "Voters have rejected Ardern … government has no mandate … National the largest party … duty to consider the good of the country … possible NZF sit on cross-benches … abstain on conf & supp … some policy agreement … honourable retirement for Winston Peters … new leader … respect for Ron Mark … "

    There are countless things to talk about, many ways to shift from Total Rejection. Because – to National – the alternative is worse. If they can prevent a second term for Labour, they will.

    Simon's promise is worthless.

  5. gsays 5
    12 February 2020 at 4:04 pm

    (Puts hand up).

    "A chocolate fish to whoever can reconcile these statements and show they are consistent."

    In Nat speak: they are pretty consistent.

  6. Fireblade 6
    12 February 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Weasel words.

    Words or statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading. (Oxford Dictionary)

  7. mac1 7
    12 February 2020 at 5:19 pm

    "Let me say, right away, that I do not regard existing conditions as likely."

    The only one to come near Bridges is Peter Sellers in his party political speech from 1958. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uw15MsGlxuc

  8. Louis 8
    12 February 2020 at 10:15 pm

    Simon is covering both bases: "When Newshub asked voters if they thought National should work with New Zealand First, more National voters said yes they should work together than no – 42.7 percent to 40.9 percent"

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/national-new-zealand-first-voters-want-parties-to-work-together-newshub-reid-research-poll-shows.html

    Simon also gave himself an out: "Remember, I'm not being investigated here, nor is New Zealand First. It is the New Zealand First Foundation."

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/02/election-2020-national-leader-simon-bridges-rules-out-winston-peters-forever-as-donation-scandal-swirls.html

  9. Observer Tokoroa 9
    13 February 2020 at 9:47 am

    To: Micky Savage

    Earlier you complained of a headache. Simon talks upside down. Winston talks upside down. The Standard looks as cluttered and tortured as "get lost" Rio Tinto and Tiwai Point helluva stink big waste of a monstrous smelter.

    No wonder you have a pain in the head Micky.

    In my opinion all the waste is steering us back to Simplicity.

    We simply do not need three coins in a Fountain when a single coin will do.

    I very much doubt that the voters in this country of ours know whether we have three legs or none. They just know it is ongoing endless stupid political waste.

    Welcome to Simplicity – Micky Savage. You are a very valuable, intelligent and fine Observer.

  10. David Mac 10
    13 February 2020 at 8:07 pm

    They all want to govern, that's the goal. Everything else is secondary.

    I think the Nats are smart to divorce Winston pre-election.

    Post election, I think Simon's butchering of the language would sound like this…

    Yes, I did say we would never enter into a coalition with NZ First. Nagging at me is the vision we have to improve the lot of each and every New Zealander and our burning desire to implement these plans. We can do nothing with our vision for all New Zealanders if we don't sit down and talk with Winston.

    There's a reason people trust Pollies the least.