Nats race tipped to be Bridges-Luxon

A National MP says the battle to replace Judith Collins will probably come down to Simon Bridges and Chris Luxon.

Bridges has decided to stand for the leadership after saying he was considering it on Thursday.

It is unclear if Luxon, a new MP who was formerly the chief executive of Air New Zealand, will put his hat in the ring.

The National MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the next 24 hours would be crucial as potential leadership contenders hit the phones looking to win over as many other National MPs as possible, making a win on Tuesday seem inevitable.

‘‘The next 24 hours are critical

[in determining] who is perceived to have the momentum,’’ the MP said.

They said it was likely that Luxon wanted ‘‘more time’’ before pushing for the leadership given he had only been elected last year, but ‘‘he hasn’t got that luxury’’.

‘‘I could live with either of them. Chris [Luxon] probably wants it given to him – like it was given to John Key.

‘‘So if Simon [Bridges] really goes, it pushes up the pressure.’’

Bridges, the MP for Tauranga, was leader of the National Party between 2018 and 2020 before being ousted in a caucus coup by Todd Muller after his poll numbers fell during the first wave of Covid-19.

Collins herself lost the leadership after a botched attempt to take down Bridges, who was widely speculated to be shaping up for a leadership bid around Christmas.

She issued a press release on Wednesday demoting Bridges and stripping him of all of his roles over a comment he made in 2016 in the presence of National MP Jacqui Dean that Dean took offence to.

The National caucus, who had not been consulted on the matter, were furious and eventually forced a confidence vote in Collins, which she lost.

The MP said it was crucial that National retook the momentum on the economy. ‘‘We have got to get some traction on one issue that is not Covid, to reassert our economic credentials,’’ the MP said. There have been widespread complaints within the party that the finance team Collins appointed had been ineffectual, and Labour has polled as more trusted than National on the economy in recent months. Bridges is the first candidate to put his hat in the ring.

During a press conference on Thursday to explain the comments and again apologise for them (they concerned the best sexual position for conceiving a girl), he made clear he was interested in the top job once more.

‘‘I think today, in particular, I am an older, possibly wiser guy than I was certainly five or six years ago – but even a couple of years ago when I was leader of the National Party,’’ Bridges said.

He said he had not been keen to stand against Collins but was interested now the position has become vacant.

‘‘I was genuine in my clear statements about not having an intention to stand where things were at. That has changed.

‘‘I am going to consider it. I do think I am older and a bit wiser. I do think I have a sense of what New Zealand needs at this time. I am going to think that through.’’

A vote on the leadership is due to be held on Tuesday.

While Bridges is the only declared candidate, Stuff understands several other MPs are weighing up a possible run, including Luxon, list MP and Covid19 response spokesman Chris Bishop, and Rodney MP Mark Mitchell.