Seymour Rebukes 'Distractions' as National MPs Gather to Decide Luxon's Leadership

Christopher Luxon has called National's MPs to Wellington for an in-person caucus meeting at 9.30am tomorrow, and he has said plainly what it is for: to resolve the question of his own leadership. He announced it in a social media post this morning, acknowledging that it was "clear from various media reports and conversations" that speculation about his position had grown.

The trigger was a Herald report last night. It described discontented National MPs working the phones on Monday about a possible change at the top. One of them, speaking anonymously, said "there's going to be change" and that the real question was who would take the job. That MP named Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford as potential front-runners. Both have previously denied leadership ambitions, though caucus sources told the Herald they believe both are contenders regardless of what they say publicly. Other MPs the Herald spoke to were open to change without committing to a camp, while one MP in Luxon's camp disagreed with it.

Luxon framed the issue around timing. He called division and disunity "a major distraction" with the election only 90 days away, and said it was unfair to the public and to National's candidates, supporters and volunteers. For those reasons, he said, the matter needed to be settled quickly. The unrest is not new: concern about his leadership has been building all year, and in April he forced a confidence vote on himself, which he survived.

One of his two coalition partners, Act leader David Seymour, picked up the same word. He would not predict the outcome, and told the Herald that "distractions are not what New Zealand needs". He said the country needs to cut waste in Wellington and grow, not have politicians pointing fingers at each other. Asked whether National should keep Luxon as leader and Prime Minister, he said he never gets involved in another party's internal politics. He confirmed he had not spoken to Luxon about his leadership or the meeting.

Seymour did suggest the turmoil could reflect poorly on National. People are "pretty hard up" at this point in the country's history, he said, and want politicians solving their problems rather than focusing on each other. He did not think the damage would extend to the three-party coalition, arguing voters can see three separate parties and that Act has been consistent and effective, though he said he could not speak for the others.

Luxon, Seymour and NZ First leader Winston Peters signed coalition agreements after the 2023 election, forming the base of the Government's agenda. It is understood those negotiations did not cover what would happen if a party leader changed. Asked how he would view the agreements if Luxon were no longer National's leader, Seymour said they are about delivering policy, and that the policies and culture of the party are what ultimately matter. Peters has been approached for comment.

Bishop, speaking to reporters in Auckland at the opening of the Te Mahia Station level crossing, declined to comment on media stories. He did not deny that the Herald had reported what it reported, and he did not deny appetite for change. He said people shouldn't be talking to media like that, that "we've been down this road before" and that it is not helpful. He said he retained confidence in Luxon, and said he does not discuss calls with caucus colleagues. Phone contact between MPs is normal in a recess week, he said, noting he would be in about four cities over four days. He was unsure why his name kept coming up: "I am just getting on with the job."

Bishop had earlier said the caucus would meet virtually this week, a prescheduled session set for 8.30pm on Tuesday, and that he did not believe Luxon's leadership was on its agenda. It is unclear whether that meeting will go ahead after the Prime Minister's post. Former Prime Minister Sir John Key was reported to have been phoning MPs on Luxon's behalf; he told the Herald those reports were "untrue".

The 9.30am meeting in Wellington will show whether the question is settled in one morning, and how Act and NZ First respond if National's leader changes.