Support for beleagured Invercargill MP Sarah Dowie appears slim within the National Party, political commentator Bryce Edwards says.
The MP is under investigation by the police regarding an abusive text message allegedly sent from her phone to her former lover, and former National Party MP, Jami-Lee Ross.
Yesterday as she arrived in Hamilton for the National Party’s two-day caucus retreat, Ms Dowie refused to answer any direct questions about the issue.
Read more: National MP, Sarah Dowie tight-lipped about her involvement with Jami-Lee Ross
This morning on TVNZ1’s Breakfast, Dr Edwards weighed in on the debate, saying he thinks support for the MP from within the party may be scarce.
“We’re not seeing a lot of signs from other National MPs that they are supporting the beleaguered MP and certainly not from her own electorate,” he said.
Mr Edwards said although party leader Simon Bridges has come out in her support, it will be generating a polarised electorate.
“They will see her as paying a huge price for what was some horrible mistakes that she’s made but there will be a lot of sympathy for her and hoping that she can actually move on,” he says.
Mr Edwards says Ms Dowie has been a ‘good performer’ in many ways as an MP.
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