Scissors are hard says National Party new Leader Simon Bridges on why no Kiwi-Indian MPs could make it to the front bench in the recently held reshuffle of the Party caucus.
Mr Bridges was at The Indian Weekender studio ahead of his meeting with former American President Barrack Obama later tonight at Auckland’s viaduct harbour.
Mr Bridges was probed with a range of questions related to the recent leadership change, caucus reshuffle and the exodus of senior MPs since then, along with the apparently less-than-remarkable positioning of the two Kiwi-Indian MPs in the new party list.
“No, absolutely not,” Mr Bridges asserted when posed with the direct question if he believed that the two Kiwi-Indian MPs did not have what it takes to be successful in the National caucus.
“Both Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Dr Parmjeet Parmar have been given significant responsibilities…
“There weren’t massive jumps!
“But over time good people would keep coming up,” Mr Bridges affirmed.
“Scissors are hard. Very difficult!
“56 MPs! The most talented team in NZ politics! Every one of them has the talent to go higher.
“But the truth is that in a comprehensive reshuffle like this, some come forward, and some go backward, and that’s the reality of it,” Mr Bridges said.
Unfazed by high profile exodus from caucus
On the leadership change and being at the helm of affairs in the National Party since then, Mr Bridges said, “It has gone even better than what I have previously thought.
“Obviously I was focused on the contest, but we have joined together since then,” Mr Bridges said about the five-person leadership contest.
However, many would differ with this assertion with the two high-profile retirement announcements of Steven Joyce and Dr Jonathan Coleman – a fact that was rejected by Mr Bridges.
“It is a reflection of the strength of National Party.
“We have 56 MPs, and you would expect some retirements, and with every retirement, we need the inflow of some fresh talents.
“This is the same National Party today as it was yesterday.
“But we need to keep modernising with the times,” Mr Bridges asserted, signalling that he was unfazed with the high profile exodus in the Party caucus.
What’s in it for Kiwi-Indian community?
Mr Bridges is of opinion that the National Party would still be the same Party that it has been in the past, continuing to focus on the strong economy, growing jobs, strong education and creating new opportunities.
“I value the importance of strong education and will continue to focus on it.
“We [Me, Kanwaljit and Parmjeet Parmar] will continue to go back to the community, keep listening to them and build the connection with the community,” Mr Bridges said.
Vision for 2020
On being asked on what would be his party’s vision for 2020, Mr Bridges said, “We would not be repeating the same mistake that the Labour Party did when in opposition and not preparing strong policies.
“We plan to go back to the community and come up with strong policies so that people would know ahead what we have to offer in 2020.
“We would not have the government resources of officials this time so we would be sending our 56 MPs strongly back to the community,” Mr Bridges said.