5th December 2016
Public favour English as Key’s successor
In a recent poll by UMR Research, when asked whether - if he were to win the next election - Prime Minister John Key
would stand down before the 2020 election or serve out the full three-year term as Prime Minister, 58% of New Zealanders
said they thought that Key would serve out the full term.
Key today confounded those expectations with news he will tender his resignation as PM next Monday.
National voters are potentially even more surprised, with two-thirds (67%) saying it was more likely he’d serve out the
full term to 2020 in the UMR survey.
When asked who voters would prefer as National party leader and PM were Key to resign, the public look to support John
Key’s endorsement of Bill English, who was their favourite of the candidates presented.
English, on 21%, was followed by Steven Joyce on 16%, Paula Bennett on 11% and Judith Collins on 6%.
Results are from UMR’s monthly online omnibus survey - a representative sample of 1,000 New Zealanders aged 18 and over.
This survey was conducted September 27th to October 14th.
The margin of error is +/-2.8%.
ENDS