First taste of Opposition for National

A shellshocked National caucus will meet today for the first time since its ousting from Government by Winston Peters.

The partty’s leadership will likely be on the agenda – and while outgoing Prime Minister Bill English has overwhelming backing to stay, he has said little about his future since last Thursday’s bombshell announcement by Peters that he was backing a change of government.

National insiders spoken to by

said there was no stomach in the caucus to replace English, and they drew parallels with Labour in 2008 when Helen Clark quit immediately following her election defeat, leading to a series of destabilising leadership changes.

‘‘It would be better if Bill could continue on for a period of time to give continuity,’’ said one MP. ‘‘One of the big mistakes Helen Clark made for her party was leaving on election night.’’

Another MP said there was ‘‘a lot of enthusiasm’’ for English to stay.

But after leading National to a commanding lead over Labour on election night, English is said to be gutted by Peters’ decision.

Other party members are said to be considering their retirement, including outgoing Speaker David Carter.

But English may be swayed by the fact that his finance spokesman, Steven Joyce, seems intent on staying put, despite earlier speculation he may quit.

While today’s meeting will likely be a debrief and a chance to lick their wounds, National MPs will be fired up at the manner of their ousting – a shock decision which has also polarised voters.

Prime Minister-designate Jacinda Ardern will announce Cabinet portfolios and flesh out her deal with NZ First, most of which has been under wraps since last week.

It is understood, however, that one of Peters’ demands was a waka-jumping bill – to stop disaffected NZ First MPs being picked

"It would be better if Bill could continue on for a period of time to give continuity." National MP

off by the National Party.

Such a bill would stop MPs defecting to other parties.

Peters is said to have feared a repeat of the 1996 coalition when a number of NZ First MPs defected after its collapse, keeping the thenNational government afloat.

NZ First is also understood to have won concessions from Labour that National balked at, including work to progress a multibillion-dollar Northland port.

The deal will also cut property sales to foreigners – another policy National balked at, warning it would send an unfortunate message to our neighbours and be in breach of trade agreements.

Immigration was also crucial to NZ First’s position – National rejected wholesale cuts, concerned about a labour shortage.

National also held the line over Reserve Bank Act changes that it worried would threaten the economy.

But it is understood Peters did not ask either party for a referendum to abolish the Ma¯ ori seats – once a bottom line for NZ First.

Sources said that could anger some of Peters’ backers, who had shifted their financial support to NZ First because of his hardline position.

Halting the huge Kermadecs marine sanctuary is also understood to have been a bottom line for NZ First, putting it at odds with the Green Party. Ardern denied the deal was dead in the water but acknowledged it would struggle to get consensus.

Some National MPs want to test the relationship between the Greens and NZ First by putting up legislation that would fast-track the sanctuary. But that move may struggle to get the backing of the caucus, which has always been split over the project’s merits.