2001 New Zealand National Party leadership election
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The New Zealand National Party leadership election was an election for theNational leadership position in 2001.
In October 2001, after months of speculation,Jenny Shipley resigned as leader of theNational Party after being told she no longer had the support of the partycaucus. Bill English was elected as her replacement unopposed (withRoger Sowry as his deputy), and consequently becameLeader of the Opposition.[1] However, he did not openly organise against Shipley, and according toThe Southland Times "there was almost an element of 'aw, shucks, I'll do it then' about Mr English's ascension".[2]
Aged 39 when he was elected, English became the second-youngest leader in the National Party's history, afterJim McLay (who was 38 when elected in 1984). He also became only the third Southlander to lead a major New Zealand political party, afterJoseph Ward andAdam Hamilton.[3]
- ^Grant Fleming, "Nat MP caucus claps in English",The Evening Post, 9 October 2001. Retrieved fromFactiva, 13 October 2001.
- ^"Bill English",The Southland Times, 10 October 2001; retrieved fromFactiva, 13 December 2016.
- ^Graeme Hunt, "Death in the afternoon – how the might fall",National Business Review, 12 October 2001. Retrieved fromFactiva, 13 December 2016.
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