You would be foolish to write off Simon Bridges now

The diabolical plot hatched by a plainly desperate Judith Collins to try and sideline former National Party leader Simon Bridges just goes to show how threatened the ‘Crusher’ felt by him, particularly in the wake of recent polling.

And to think: not so long ago Simon Bridges was everybody’s favourite whipping post.

With typical style and a sense of grace, Mr Bridges has emerged from this latest National Party fiasco with both his integrity and force of personality well intact. Only a fool would write off Simon Bridges now.

Jo Barrett, Islington

Blaming others

It seems that Judith Collins is trying to still blame others for her demise as the leader of the National Party after she made a rather strange decision to remove Simon Bridges from his position within the party.

Collins, who is a lawyer, would know that she had to follow ‘‘due process’’ and in this case she clearly didn’t, so instead of admitting this she has now stated, ‘‘I knew when I was confided in by a female colleague regarding her allegation of serious misconduct against a senior colleague, that I would likely lose the leadership by taking the matter so seriously’’.

This is clearly not true as had she followed the simple due process rules, the matter would have been dealt with as a normal employment matter is.

However she then also continued to mislead her colleagues by stating before she removed Bridges, she ‘‘had the full support of the National board’’, when this was not the case.

The only reason she was rolled (probably earlier than expected) was because of her own bad judgment in the matter, and not because she took the matter so seriously.

Bill Walker, Kaiapoi

Tenancies

Well, with Judith gone we only have to wait until Tuesday to see whether owning a National MP electorate office is going to be a good investment or not.

Prior to yesterday I thought they were heading for a lot of ’Tenant gone’ signs.

Alan Grigor, Aidanfield

Follow a leader?

Now might be an appropriate time to consider whether it is more sensible to follow a leader or, instead, remember to think for ourselves.

We might like to have faith in goodness, or some individuals, or a concept because it makes the world a better place.

We might like to reconsider whether we get the same advantages from having faith in organisations such as political parties, so-called ‘charismatic leaders’, or even religions.

The National Party needs to move away from right-wing dogma if it wants to survive.

A leader is surely one who forms a team of good and clever people.

A leader is not someone who takes control and power and uses unscrupulous tactics to rule and to satisfy their personal greed or ego needs.

We should hope that current and recent ruler behaviour teaches us to remove such influences in a world badly in need of good common sense.

Doug Hitchon, Mahana