2001 New Zealand National Party leadership election

April 2024 March 2017 none 2001 New Zealand National Party leadership election National logo 1990.jpg presidential no 1997 New Zealand National Party leadership election 1997 2003 New Zealand National Party leadership election 2003 8 October 2001 Bill English, 2005 (cropped).jpg Bill English 00529F elected unopposed Leader Leader after election Jenny Shipley Bill English The New Zealand National Party leadership election was an election for the National leadership position in 2001. Background First Shadow Cabinet of Bill English In October 2001, after months of speculation, Jenny Shipley resigned as leader of the National Party after being told she no longer had the support of the party caucus. Bill English was elected as her replacement unopposed (with Roger Sowry as his deputy), and consequently became Leader of the Opposition.Grant Fleming, "Nat MP caucus claps in English", The Evening Post, 9 October 2001. Retrieved from Factiva, 13 October 2001. However, he did not openly organise against Shipley, and according to The Southland Times "there was almost an element of 'aw, shucks, I'll do it then' about Mr English's ascension"."Bill English", The Southland Times, 10 October 2001; retrieved from Factiva, 13 December 2016. Aged 39 when he was elected, English became the second-youngest leader in the National Party's history, after Jim McLay (who was 38 when elected in 1984). He also became only the third Southlander to lead a major New Zealand political party, after Joseph Ward and Adam Hamilton.Graeme Hunt, "Death in the afternoon – how the might fall", National Business Review, 12 October 2001. Retrieved from Factiva, 13 December 2016. References Category:2001 elections in New Zealand 2001 Category:October 2001 in New Zealand New Zealand National Party leadership election