Willis gets Finance

Chris Luxon has appointed Nicola Willis as Finance Spokesperson to replace Simon Bridges. Chris Bishop will take Housing off Willis – logical moves which I said yesterday seemed the most likely option. The full changes are:

• Willis gets Finance (and Social Investment), drops Housing
• Bishop gets Housing and Infrastructure, moves from No 4 to No 3
• Shane Reti moves to No 4 from No 5
• Paul Goldsmith moves to No 5 from No 12

Nicola has done an excellent job in housing. A year ago Ipsos had Labour 23% ahead of National as the party best for housing. Last month National was 6% ahead. She now moves into an area where National is already seen as traditionally stronger, so I expect a big focus on the cost of living. As a mother of four young kids, Nicola will have first hand experience of the pressure on households.