Erica Stanford dodges media after conference, as Christopher Luxon won’t say whether he thinks she tried to roll him
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he doesn’t want to “get into” questions about whether his Education Minister Erica Stanford was co-ordinating with former Defence Minister Chris Penk when he launched a bid for the National Party leadership.
Penk’s leadership attempt failed at a caucus meeting on Wednesday. He was subsequently sacked from his portfolios and announced he would retire as an MP.
It has been widely speculated that Penk’s bid was part of a campaign for another leadership candidate, potentially Stanford.
Luxon was attending Business Canterbury’s South Island Election Conference in Christchurch today, along with Stanford and other rumoured leadership candidate Chris Bishop. Both Stanford and Bishop have pledged loyalty to Luxon and have denied plotting a coup.
Stanford has sent out written statements after the caucus meeting, pledging support for Luxon, but is yet to hold a press stand-up. Stanford is yet to answer questions from the Heraldabout whether she and Penk were co-ordinating and whether she endorses Luxon’s decision to sack Penk.
Stanford’s statement said Luxon “continues to have my full support, as he always has”.
She left the conference through a back door, meaning she did not speak to waiting media.
The Heraldasked on behalf of itself and other media whether she could return at some time during the day to speak, but was told she was busy in education-related meetings the rest of the day.
She briefly spoke to Bishop and other National MPs before leaving through a back door.
Luxon explained Stanford’s absence was due to her speaking on a panel at the same time.
Speaking to media, Luxon would not answer questions about whether Penk acted alone.
Luxon said he and Stanford had spoken since Wednesday.
“We have [spoken], yes, but I just say to you we came out of Wednesday, we’ve talked about that the last two days, I haven’t got much more to add,” he said.
He was asked three times whether he believed Penk acted alone.
“It’s great you’re out of the bubble today mate,” Luxon said to the press, one of whom had travelled from Wellington.
“I’m just saying to you, we have discussed that ad nauseam over the last 48 hours, I get it was a bit of a frustrating period for everybody.
“But we came out of that caucus united, focused and I’m very proud of my team that are there to take New Zealand forward.”
Asked again, Luxon said, “I’m not getting into that. We’ve talked about that before. I don’t know how to be any clearer with you, I appreciate you might want to continue to noodle away on it.
“Thats lovely but that’s not what we’re interested in.”
On Thursday, Luxon answered “yes” when asked whether he believed Penk acted alone but has refused to take further questions on the matter.