Simon Bridges: As Trump’s mob storms the Capitol, here’s the book which tells us how we got here

How did America get to this point? A Time to Build, by leading conservative intellectual Yuval Levin, goes a long way to explaining what has happened there, and in New Zealand, too, writes a former leader of the NZ National Party. Yuval Levin used to be one of the most influential political theorists in the … Read more

Simon Bridges: A response to my old mate, Chester Borrows, on crime and justice

In a column for The Spinoff yesterday, former National MP Chester Borrows lamented the cheap political rhetoric on crime and justice, including that of the current National Party leader. Here Simon Bridges responds. We’re not as far away from your prescription as you might think, he writes. Usually when I write a column in reply … Read more

Simon Bridges: Why we decided to support the Child Poverty Reduction Bill

We won’t stop fearlessly holding the government to account, but on this we decided that together we could put forward legislation that would improve the lives of children, writes opposition leader Simon Bridges There’s a fine balance to strike when you’re in opposition. Your number one job is to hold the government to account. It’s difficult … Read more

Simon Bridges: Our medicinal cannabis bill is no stunt, but it is miles better

The National Party this week sprung a surprise by putting forward a rival bill on medicinal marijuana. Here leader of the opposition Simon Bridges explains their thinking New Zealanders deserve greater access to high quality medicinal cannabis products to ease their pain and suffering, but we must have the right regulatory and legislative controls in … Read more