Bill English steps forward
English’s ascension isn’t a direct call by the voters. But the National caucus was scarcely in a position to disregard public standing and by any measure English represented a more reassuring option for the public than either Collins or Coleman.
That’s reassuring as opposed to exciting, perhaps.
Coleman scarcely appealed on either front. His outsider chances were founded on a support base among the backbenchers with personal ambitions that had been in something of a state of purgatory; the downside, for them, of the Key Government’s stability.
Collins had a fair crack at presenting herself as the exciting option, essentially putting the case that what English was offering was just a John Key Government without John Key.
But her own flintier side suggested she was better suited to Anne Hegerty’s Governess role on the quiz show The Chase than leading the nation.
The extent to which English is a known quantity depends, a bit, on how closely his career is being followed.
When Key stood triumphant, once again, after the last election, he called English the best finance minister in the developed world. Whether or not you accept the superlative, it would take an act of wilful self-deception to deny that international standing is way up there.
But his work as finance minister, steering a course through global financial crisis and acts of God, isn’t the sum total of his achievements.
He has quietly brought about considerable reforms within government organisations and he is certainly seen as a constraint on the more Right-wing party agendas. Opponents would argue that such perceptions are illusory, or that he lacks any inspirational plans.
But middle New Zealand makes its own calls on such matters and significant numbers detect a combination of essential decency, a big ol’ brain, and . . . well . . . that might do.
As for the opportunity for change, it’s all eyes to the appointment of his deputy. Paula Bennett does seem to be the more energising choice.
By dull contrast to her leopardskin Westie persona, Simon Bridges comes across as cut from a very, very familiar dark blue cloth. So very safe that, in this context, he’s probably unsafely dull.