Luxon claims support, then 5 traitors, then total support again – he’s becoming as credible as a non-orange Trump

The Christopher Luxon leadership crisis is starting to look less like a wobble and more like a slow-motion unravel. One minute there’s total caucus support, the next there are “five disgruntled MPs”, and then — just as quickly — there’s no problem at all. Voters aren’t stupid. They can see the contradictions stacking up.

PM Christopher Luxon walks back claim five National MPs ‘frustrated’ at his leadership

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is walking back his comments today that there are five National MPs “moaning and frustrated” about Luxon’s leadership and the party’s polling.

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Luxon, speaking at his post-Cabinet press conference, claimed he had been referring to the number of sources referenced in the Herald’s article which reported National whip Stuart Smith had unsuccessfully tried to contact Luxon before Easter, about flagging support within the caucus.

It comes ahead of National’s caucus meeting tomorrow morning at Parliament, where Luxon has promised to reinforce the need to be unified and disciplined ahead of this year’s election.

So which is it, Christopher — unity or mutiny?

The National leader has faced weeks of speculation his leadership is at risk, in light of a series of public polls putting the party at or below 30%, and low popularity for Luxon as prime minister.

The Herald’s report on Friday cited multiple National sources about Smith’s attempt to contact Luxon about the feeling in caucus.

Luxon could not be contacted by Smith at the time, though the pair later met in north Canterbury. Smith has not commented publicly on the matter.

Asked on Newstalk ZB this morning about the article, Luxon said he had read it and admitted “there’ll be a handful of people who’d understandably be disgruntled”.

He said there were five “that are moaning and frustrated”.

“Of people that I could think that could possibly be talking to media about their frustrations, that’s all I’m saying,” Luxon said earlier today.

Asked at this afternoon’s press conference who the five MPs were, Luxon maintained he was simply reacting to media reports.

“My comment was just in reaction to your media reporting quoting a number of sources that you said you had, that’s as much as it is,” he said.

“There’s nothing in the number per se.”

He reiterated he had the “full support” of his caucus.

NZME

When the story keeps changing, credibility collapses

Luxon is all over the place and starting to sound as delusional as Trump does when declaring victory in Iran.

First it was, ‘I have the backing of the Caucus”.

Then it was, “There are 5 disgruntled MPs leaking”

Now it is, “There are no leaking MPs”

All the while he’s trying explain how he keeps missing having a meeting with his Whip would trigger an official challenge.

It’s the same playbook that Judith used when Simon Bridges launched his challenge against her.

Luxon is so arrogant that he doesn’t bother reading negative data about his leadership any longer!

He has the false confidence of someone towering in the wrong room with all the misplaced self esteem of an evangelical Christian on Rapture Day.

Because the Caucus are too weak to actually knife Luxon, he will gloriously remain as leader.

The panic that is setting in for National won’t get better the closer we get to the election, it will only grow.