National Party leader Simon Bridges has defended his leadership after being questioned on scandals and turmoil in his first year as leader.
Despite former National MP for Botany Jami-Lee Ross being out of the party, leaks are still continuing to happen, the latest being a text from an anonymous person revealing National’s internal poll voting at the start of December.
The anonymous texter claimed to be a member of the National Party, which Mr Bridges has denied.
When questioned on TVNZ’s Q+A if his leadership was safe, the National leader says what really matters is the party vote one year into leadership.
“I think people are seeing at the end of the year, we finished strong and as a government of nice intentions but not actually the outcome that we want,” says Mr Bridges.
A 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll shows the party has finished the year on 46 per cent. but recent polls have revealed Mr Bridges is ranking low among the other leaders on seven per cent as preferred Prime Minister.
It comes after an explosive feud between former National MP Jami-Lee Ross after Mr Bridges' expenses were leaked back in August.
Mr Ross was expelled from the National Party in October after an investigation pointed towards him being the leaker.
Mr Bridges however says he’s happy with his performance as leader, despite the controversy.
“I think National under me, we're a great team … if you go back through opposition leaders over the last 40 years I’m in a very similar position to 98 per cent of them,” says Mr Bridges.
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