English will win but deputy contest tight

''We're in a process that goes through to Monday and nothing really changes until then." Bill English

Bill English has the support of a majority of National MPS and will be New Zealand’s next prime minister.

English, the current deputy, has the 30 MPS needed to win the leadership.

Steven Joyce will be his new finance minister.

Police Minister Judith Collins has withdrawn her candidacy, saying she will support English ‘‘100 per cent’’.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman also pulled out of the race late yesterday afternoon.

English, Coleman and Collins have been in a battle for the leadership after Prime Minister John Key announced on Monday that he was stepping down.

English now has the numbers needed in caucus after Amy Adams, Todd Muller, Alfred Ngaro, Jamilee Ross, Joanne Hayes, Chris Bishop, Mark Mitchell, Todd Barclay, Jonathan Young, Barbara Kuriger and Jono Naylor all confirmed their support yesterday.

English said he ‘‘appreciated the support’’ of his caucus - a majority of whom have publicly endorsed him for prime minister.

He would not be drawn on whether he would call an early election as the next prime minister. ’’I’m not discussing any of that, we’re in a process that goes through to Monday and nothing really changes until then.’’

Coleman said he would back English 100 per cent and wanted the Government to win a fourth term.

He was not disappointed by the outcome, although he would have loved to be prime minister, and said the party was totally unified.

He is not putting his name forward to be deputy.

Collins said she entered the leadership race because several caucus colleagues asked her to but she would now step aside for English.

‘‘Caucus wanted to have the opportunity for a contest of ideas and have a vote.

‘‘It’s clear to me that 50 per cent of the caucus support Bill English as leader and therefore as far as I’m concerned he has won,’’ Collins said.

‘‘I would like to say to my supporters we should get in behind Bill as the leader, go forward together and win the next election.’’

Collins described English as having ‘‘many fine qualities and he is someone I fully respect.’’

Joyce said English would ‘‘do a wonderful job as prime minister’’. He did not believe the pair having two of the three most senior jobs would prevent the change and rejuvenation that some in National were calling for.

‘‘Whatever the team ends up finally being, you will see some change, you will see some new direction - it’s an opportunity to have a look at that,’’ Joyce said. He did not express a preference for deputy prime minister.

Attention has already shifted to the contest of the deputy leadership, with public support for both candidates in an English-led government.

Justice Minister Amy Adams, who was expected to show her hand for the deputy role, earlier ruled it out and threw her support behind English as PM and State Services Minister Paula Bennett as his deputy.

Influential backbenchers Todd Muller and Alfred Ngaro also endorsed English but are split on a deputy - with Muller backing Transport Minister Simon Bridges and Ngaro endorsing Bennett.

Muller and Ngaro are part of a backbencher powerhouse being called the ‘‘four amigos’’ that holds influence in the National Party caucus.

Muller said Kiwis are looking for ‘‘strong leadership, continuity and stability’’ which they would get with English.

Bishop and Mitchell are the other two ‘‘amigos’’ who are supporting English but they’re keeping their cards close to their chest on their choice for deputy.

Barclay, who took over English’s seat of Cluthasouthland at the 2014 election, is supporting an Englishbridges combination.

The battle between Bennett and Bridges was predicted to be far closer than the leadership race.

- Fairfax NZ