We now know that Bill English will be the new Prime Minister when John Key resign on Monday morning. It is the job of the National Party caucus to vote for the Prime Minister but at least 50% of them have already promised to vote for Bill English. Both Judith Collins and Jonathon Coleman therefore decided to withdraw from the contest for Prime Minister.
Paula Bennett will be the new Deputy Prime Minister. Simon Bridges originally put his name forward for Deputy Prime Minister but he soon discovered that Paula Bennett had enough votes to win. She is only 47. She is Minister for Social Housing, Minister for State Services and Minister on Climate Change issues.
She has an unusual background for an MP. She had a child when she was only 17 and brought up that child on her own. She had a benefit from Social Welfare and this helped to support her while she went to university in 1994 to study for a BA.
Bill English will probably make changes to the Cabinet. Many younger MPs want to be a Minister and he will probably give them a chance.
Vocabulary
• caucus – all the National Members of Parliament
• contest – a competition
• withdraw – take their names off the list of people wanting to be Prime Minister
• originally – at first
• MP – Member of Parliament
• a benefit – a pension, money from Social Welfare
• Cabinet – all the Ministers e.g. Minister of Health, Minister of Police etc