Stanford slips out back door as Luxon refuses to clear her over failed coup

Summarised by Centrist

Education Minister Erica Stanford has avoided direct questioning about whether she co-ordinated with Chris Penk during his failed leadership challenge, leaving a Christchurch conference through a back door while waiting journalists sought answers.

Penk attempted to replace Christopher Luxon at Wednesday’s National caucus meeting. His bid failed, his ministerial portfolios were stripped and he subsequently announced his retirement from Parliament.

It has been widely speculated that Penk was acting as a stalking horse for another leadership candidate, potentially Stanford. Both Stanford and Chris Bishop have denied plotting against Luxon and pledged their loyalty.

But Stanford’s assurances have so far been confined to written statements. She said Luxon “continues to have my full support, as he always has”, yet has not held a press stand-up since the caucus confrontation.

She has not answered specific questions about whether she co-ordinated with Penk or whether she supports Luxon’s decision to sack him.

Stanford attended Business Canterbury’s South Island Election Conference on Friday but left through a back entrance without speaking to waiting media. Journalists asked whether she could return later, but were told she had education meetings. Before departing, she briefly spoke with Bishop and other National MPs.

Luxon has been equally unwilling to settle the matter. He confirmed speaking with Stanford after the challenge but refused three times to say whether Penk acted alone.

On Thursday, Luxon answered “yes” when asked that question. By Friday, his answer had become “I’m not getting into that”, accompanied by complaints that journalists had discussed the coup ad nauseam.

The turmoil comes as an August Talbot Mills poll puts National on 29%, five points behind Labour, with the governing parties projected to win just 59 seats and Hipkins edging Luxon as preferred prime minister, 23% to 22%. 

Read more at The New Zealand Herald

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