ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
It would be interesting to see how the National Party, which has been polling at a comfortable, and an enviable mid 40’s even for the most part of the first year of being in opposition will fare in the next opinion poll in the near future after the unprecedented saga of Jami-Lee Ross’s accusation of corruption on the Party Leader Simon Bridges.
Jami-Lee Ross, the electorate MP from Botany, has unleashed a bold, and assiduous charge on Simon Bridges’ leadership position and “moral compass” saying that Mr Bridges is guilty of mishandling Party donations and funds - something that Mr Bridges has spiritedly refuted.
The caucus and the Party have chosen to stand-by Mr Bridges so far. However, it would be interesting to see for how long.
How the crisis unfolded
The current crisis has roots in the leaks over the expenses involved in Simon Bridges’ nation-wide travel about a month ago to campaign and interacts with New Zealanders.
It emerged that the leak has most likely originated from the national party caucus, thus forcing the
Mr Bridges had ordered an enquiry to identify the leaker within the caucus.
A few days ago, MP from Botany Jami-Lee Ross had taken leave on “medical grounds” sighting mental health issues.
The Party and Mr Bridges had then indicated that both these issues were not related. However, reports coming out in media suggested otherwise.
The drama started yesterday when Mr Ross anticipating that Mr Bridges has made up his mind to go public with the findings of PwR report potentially pointing towards him (though not conclusively), launched his own attack questioning Mr Bridges’ moral compass and thereby leadership position.
Most of the commentators agree that this crisis in the National Party is unprecedented.
On Tuesday, October 16, both sides were engaged in pre-emptive attacks and refusal.
However, the man from up north, Winston Peters and the longtime nemesis of the National Party and Simon Bridges (he hasn’t forgotten and forgiven both) is having the most laughs at the moment.
More to come!
It would be interesting to see how the National Party, which has been polling at a comfortable, and an enviable mid 40’s even for the most part of the first year of being in opposition will fare in the next opinion poll in the near future after the unprecedented saga of Jami-Lee Ross’s accusation...
It would be interesting to see how the National Party, which has been polling at a comfortable, and an enviable mid 40’s even for the most part of the first year of being in opposition will fare in the next opinion poll in the near future after the unprecedented saga of Jami-Lee Ross’s accusation of corruption on the Party Leader Simon Bridges.
Jami-Lee Ross, the electorate MP from Botany, has unleashed a bold, and assiduous charge on Simon Bridges’ leadership position and “moral compass” saying that Mr Bridges is guilty of mishandling Party donations and funds - something that Mr Bridges has spiritedly refuted.
The caucus and the Party have chosen to stand-by Mr Bridges so far. However, it would be interesting to see for how long.
How the crisis unfolded
The current crisis has roots in the leaks over the expenses involved in Simon Bridges’ nation-wide travel about a month ago to campaign and interacts with New Zealanders.
It emerged that the leak has most likely originated from the national party caucus, thus forcing the
Mr Bridges had ordered an enquiry to identify the leaker within the caucus.
A few days ago, MP from Botany Jami-Lee Ross had taken leave on “medical grounds” sighting mental health issues.
The Party and Mr Bridges had then indicated that both these issues were not related. However, reports coming out in media suggested otherwise.
The drama started yesterday when Mr Ross anticipating that Mr Bridges has made up his mind to go public with the findings of PwR report potentially pointing towards him (though not conclusively), launched his own attack questioning Mr Bridges’ moral compass and thereby leadership position.
Most of the commentators agree that this crisis in the National Party is unprecedented.
On Tuesday, October 16, both sides were engaged in pre-emptive attacks and refusal.
However, the man from up north, Winston Peters and the longtime nemesis of the National Party and Simon Bridges (he hasn’t forgotten and forgiven both) is having the most laughs at the moment.
More to come!
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