Politics - Breaking News, 7ish August
MP rumoured to be running numbers for Stanford 'pleased' with today's outcome
At Wellington Airport, Defence Minister Chris Penk again denied earlier reports that he was part of a group that pushed for Erica Stanford to challenge Christopher Luxon as National leader.
"Number one, we don't talk about what happens in caucus, but I'm really pleased as a result we've got clarity and certainty, which is 100% confidence in Christopher Luxon as the leader of the National Party and prime minister," he said.
The NZ Herald and veteran journalist Richard Harman both reported Penk was supporting Stanford in a bid for the leadership. She did not express confidence in Luxon as reporters peppered her with questions in Auckland and again in Wellington on Tuesday evening.
But Penk denied those reports as he arrived at Parliament on Wednesday morning. "I think everyone else needs to get their stories straight because I'm hearing multiple different versions. None of them are true," he said, while pledging support for Luxon.
After the vote, he again dismissed the reports. "No," he replied to a question about whether he was involved in a plot to oust the party's leader.
Asked if he expected to keep the defence portfolio, Penk said, "It's always the case that ministerial portfolios are at the gift of the prime minister. So, any other day of the week, I would say the same thing I'd say now, which is that those decisions are for the prime minister."
Penk declined to say whether he voted for Luxon, saying he would not talk about what happens in caucus.
"Number one, we don't talk about what happens in caucus, but I'm really pleased as a result we've got clarity and certainty, which is 100% confidence in Christopher Luxon as the leader of the National Party and prime minister," he said.
The NZ Herald and veteran journalist Richard Harman both reported Penk was supporting Stanford in a bid for the leadership. She did not express confidence in Luxon as reporters peppered her with questions in Auckland and again in Wellington on Tuesday evening.
But Penk denied those reports as he arrived at Parliament on Wednesday morning. "I think everyone else needs to get their stories straight because I'm hearing multiple different versions. None of them are true," he said, while pledging support for Luxon.
After the vote, he again dismissed the reports. "No," he replied to a question about whether he was involved in a plot to oust the party's leader.
Asked if he expected to keep the defence portfolio, Penk said, "It's always the case that ministerial portfolios are at the gift of the prime minister. So, any other day of the week, I would say the same thing I'd say now, which is that those decisions are for the prime minister."
Penk declined to say whether he voted for Luxon, saying he would not talk about what happens in caucus.