Bridges’ reshuffle a mixed bouquet
‘Old-school’ No 4 Collins cops early blast from Twyford
Housing Minister Phil Twyford has got in the first jabs in what is shaping up to be a humdinger battle against National’s new housing spokeswoman Judith Collins, describing her as “the epitome of the old school, hard-hearted Nat”.
Collins will be National’s fourthranked MP and will go up against Twyford in housing and urban development after National leader Simon Bridges’ reshuffle yesterday.
Bridges highlighted Collins’ appointment, saying: “Phil Twyford is on notice: Judith is coming.”
He later said Twyford would not get much sleep after the news he would be facing off against Collins.
In response, Twyford said he would sleep fine and he was more worried about those who’d had to sleep in cars under National’s reign.
Referring to Collins’ nickname, he said: “I think you need a builder not a Crusher in the housing portfolio.
“If there’s one thing National should have learned after nine years, it’s that Kiwis want more compassion. But Judith Collins is the epitome of the old-school, hard-hearted Nat. Housing is National’s Achilles heel. I wonder whether this is Simon Bridges setting her up for failure.”
Collins laughed off Twyford’s response: “Oh dear, he’s forgotten he’s in Government. Phil needs to stop personally attacking me and start focusing on delivering for New Zealanders. He must be very rattled.”
She said Labour had made “enorm- ous promises” with little understanding of what was needed to meet them.
“They have very little understanding around some of the big issues round capital and the time delays.”
Collins did well in the reshuffle but the real bolters were comparatively unknown MPs Paul Goldsmith, Jami-Lee Ross and Mark Mitchell.
Bridges said he knew them well and was confident they would do well in the jobs they had.
Ross is the only front-bencher who has not been a minister before, but Bridges said he had worked well strategically as party whip.
The reshuffle also delivered to those who contested the leadership against him. Amy Adams and Collins secured high rankings, Mark Mitchell moved from 21 to seven, and Adams loyalist Nikki Kaye rose to 10 from 12.
Goldsmith jumps from 14 to nine and will take on Regional Development Minister Shane Jones as well as revenue. Bridges has appointed two further regional development spokesmen — Jonathan Young is responsible for North Island issues and Stuart Smith for South Island.
It was also good news for Melissa Lee and Sarah Dowie, the only other two in the shadow cabinet of 20 who have not been ministers before.
But despite Bridges’ naming 2014 MPs such as Dowie, Todd Muller and Smith as impressive, only Dowie was given a high placing.
Some of the longer-standing MPs may also be licking their wounds — Maggie Barry dropped from 19 to outside the shadow cabinet, Gerry Brownlee fell from four to 11 and lost the foreign affairs portfolio to Todd McClay, but Brownlee did get the shadow leader of the house role he had wanted as well as the spy agencies and America’s Cup.
Former Speaker David Carter also dropped out of the shadow cabinet from 17 to 22 with the state owned enterprises portfolio.
Former Housing Minister Nick Smith dropped from 18 to 26.
He has lower profile roles of electoral reform and state services.