Everyone backs Luxon except the woman tipped to replace him

Summarised by Centrist

National MPs have publicly rallied behind Christopher Luxon as he prepares for an urgent caucus meeting on his leadership. However, Education Minister Erica Stanford twice declined to say whether she still had confidence in him.

Stanford was questioned before leaving Auckland and again after arriving in Wellington. On both occasions, the minister widely reported as a possible successor refused to answer.

Her silence contrasts sharply with the declarations made by her colleagues.

As of early Wednesday morning, Stanford had still not publicly clarified whether she supports Luxon remaining leader. No challenger or alternative leadership ticket had been confirmed before the 9.30 am meeting. 

Chris Bishop, another potential contender, said: “We back our leader.” Takanini MP Rima Nakhle was more emphatic: “150%. He’s the boss.” Mark Mitchell reportedly expressed “100%” confidence, while MPs Joseph Mooney and Scott Simpson also publicly backed Luxon.

Only days earlier, Stanford had called Luxon “not only a great leader but a great friend” while defending his apology to small business owners.

“That’s what good leaders do,” she said at the time.

That makes her silence now difficult to dismiss as routine media management. It does not prove Stanford is mounting a challenge. She has not declared one, and there is no confirmed alternative ticket. But during a leadership crisis, a senior minister can end speculation with a single sentence. Stanford chose not to.

Reports have suggested a possible line-up involving Stanford as leader, Mark Mitchell as deputy and Bishop taking over finance. None has confirmed any such arrangement. 

Luxon called MPs back to Wellington after acknowledging “increased speculation about my leadership”.

“It is my firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election,” he said. “This issue needs to be resolved quickly.”

The meeting follows what National MPs reportedly regard as a series of “own goals”, including Luxon’s comments telling struggling businesses to “be adult” and his surprise announcement of an MMP referendum without first consulting colleagues.

Luxon later said he felt “sorry for my caucus colleagues” who were suddenly required to defend the referendum proposal.

This will be his second caucus test in four months. After surviving a confidence vote in April, Luxon declared: “Caucus has answered clearly and decisively. It has backed my leadership.”

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