Kate Hawkesby: Surprising to see Simon Bridges leave politics

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Mar 15, 2022 · 2m

I must admit I haven’t actually read his book, but I am reliably informed that Simon Bridges said in it that he was staying in politics despite getting dumped as leader, to fight the good fight.

Hence his announcement that he’s now quitting parliament, surprised me. Why now? Surely with a government on the ropes, a promising new opposition leader and potentially a bright future as a senior player within the National Party, there was good reason to stay.

But I guess he worked out that long term, any return to leadership is now out.

He says there’s no precipitating reason, that he just felt it…