Bill English

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For other people with the same name, see William English (disambiguation).
The Right Honourable
Bill English
MP
Bill English September 2016.jpg
39th Prime Minister of New Zealand
Assumed office
12 December 2016
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy
Deputy Paula Bennett
Preceded by John Key
9th Leader of the National Party
Assumed office
12 December 2016
Deputy Paula Bennett
Preceded by John Key
In office
8 October 2001 – 28 October 2003
Deputy Roger Sowry
Preceded by Jenny Shipley
Succeeded by Don Brash
17th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2016
Prime Minister John Key
Preceded by Michael Cullen
Succeeded by Paula Bennett
39th Minister of Finance
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2016
Prime Minister John Key
Preceded by Michael Cullen
Succeeded by Steven Joyce
In office
31 January 1999 – 22 June 1999
Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
Preceded by Bill Birch
Succeeded by Bill Birch
Deputy Leader of the National Party
In office
27 November 2006 – 12 December 2016
Leader John Key
Preceded by Gerry Brownlee
Succeeded by Paula Bennett
In office
7 February 2001 – 6 October 2001
Leader Jenny Shipley
Preceded by Wyatt Creech
Succeeded by Roger Sowry
29th Leader of the Opposition
In office
8 October 2001 – 28 October 2003
Deputy Roger Sowry
Preceded by Jenny Shipley
Succeeded by Don Brash
3rd Treasurer of New Zealand
In office
22 June 1999 – 5 December 1999
Prime Minister Jenny Shipley
Preceded by Bill Birch
Succeeded by Michael Cullen
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Clutha-Southland
In office
12 October 1996 – 20 September 2014
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Todd Barclay
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Wallace
In office
27 October 1990 – 12 October 1996
Preceded by Derek Angus
Succeeded by Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born Simon William English
(1961-12-30) 30 December 1961 (age 55)
Lumsden, New Zealand
Political party National
Spouse(s) Mary Scanlon
Children 6
Alma mater University of Otago
Victoria University
Website Official website

Simon William "Bill" English (born 30 December 1961) is the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand and leader of the National Party, having taken office on 12 December 2016. He was previously Deputy Prime Minister from 2008 to 2016.

A farmer and public servant before entering politics, English was elected to parliament in 1990 as the National Party's candidate in the Wallace electorate. He was elevated to cabinet in 1996 and in 1999 was made Minister of Finance, although he served for less than a year due to his party's loss at the 1999 general election. In October 2001, English replaced Jenny Shipley as the leader of the National Party (and consequently as leader of the opposition). The party lost the 2002 general election, and in October 2003 he was replaced as leader by Don Brash. In November 2006, after Don Brash's resignation, English became deputy leader under John Key.

After National's victory at the 2008 general election, English became Deputy Prime Minister and was also made Minister for Finance for a second time. He became a list-only MP after retiring as an electorate MP at the 2014 general election. In December 2016, John Key announced his intention to resign as prime minister. He endorsed English as his replacement, and English won the resulting leadership election unopposed.

Early life[edit]

English is the second-youngest of 12 children of Mervyn English and Norah (née O'Brien) English. His parents purchased Rosedale, a mixed sheep and cropping farm in Dipton, Southland from Mervyn's uncle, Vincent English, a bachelor, in 1944.[1][2] English was born in the nearby town of Lumsden.[3]

He attended St Thomas's School in Winton, then boarded at St. Patrick's College in Upper Hutt, where he became head boy. He played in the first XV of the school's rugby team. English went on to study commerce at the University of Otago, where he was a resident at Selwyn College, and then completed an honours degree in English literature at Victoria University of Wellington.[4]

After finishing his studies, English returned to Dipton and farmed for a few years.[4] From 1987 to 1989, he worked in Wellington as a policy analyst for the New Zealand Treasury, at a time when the free market policies favoured by Labour's finance minister Roger Douglas (known collectively as "Rogernomics") were being implemented.[5]

Early political career[edit]

See also: Fourth National Government of New Zealand

English joined the National Party in 1980, while at Victoria University. He served for a period as chairman of the Southland branch of the Young Nationals, and became a member of the Wallace electorate committee. After moving to Wellington, he served for periods on the Island Bay and Miramar electorate committees, respectively.[6]

At the 1990 general election, English stood as the National candidate in Wallace, replacing the retiring Derek Angus, and was elected with a large majority. He and three other newly elected National MPs (Tony Ryall, Nick Smith, and Roger Sowry) were soon identified as rising stars in New Zealand politics, and at various points were dubbed the "brat pack", the "gang of four", and the "Young Turks". In his first term in parliament, English chaired a select committee into social services. He was made a parliamentary under-secretary in 1993, serving under the Minister of Health.[4][7]

First period in cabinet (1996–1999)[edit]

See also: Fourth National Government of New Zealand

In early 1996, English was elevated to cabinet by Prime Minister Jim Bolger, becoming the Minister for Crown Health Enterprises and Associate Minister of Education (to Wyatt Creech). He was 34 at the time, becoming the cabinet's youngest member.[8] After the 1996 general election, the National Party was forced into a coalition with New Zealand First to retain government. In the resulting cabinet reshuffle, English emerged as Minister of Health. However, as a condition of the coalition agreement, NZ First's Neil Kirton (a first-term MP) was made Associate Minister of Health, effectively becoming English's deputy. This arrangement was described in the press as a "shotgun marriage", and there were frequent differences of opinion between the two ministers.[9][10] After their relationship became unworkable, Kirton was sacked from the role in August 1997, with the agreement of NZ First leader Winston Peters.[11]

As Minister of Health, English was responsible for continuing the reforms to the public health system that National had begun after the 1990 general election. The reforms were unpopular, and health was perceived as one of the government's weaknesses, with the health portfolio consequently being viewed as a challenge.[12] English believed that the unpopularity of the reforms was in part due to a failure in messaging, and encouraged his National colleagues to avoid bureaucratic and money-focused language (such as references to "balance sheets" and "user charges") and instead talk about the improvements to services the government's reforms would bring.[13] He also rejected the idea that public hospitals could be run as commercial enterprises, a view which some of his colleagues had previously promoted.[14]

By early 1997, as dissatisfaction with Bolger's leadership began to grow, English was being touted as a potential successor, along with Jenny Shipley and Doug Graham. His age (35) was viewed as the main impediment to a successful leadership run.[15] National's leadership troubles were resolved in December 1997, when Bolger resigned and Shipley was elected to the leadership unopposed. English had been a supporter of Bolger as leader, but Shipley reappointed him Minister of Health in her new cabinet.[12]

English was promoted to Minister of Finance in a reshuffle in January 1999, a position which was at the time subordinate to the Treasurer, Bill Birch. After a few months, the pair switched positions as part of Birch's transition to retirement, with English assuming the senior portfolio. In early interviews, he emphasised his wish to be seen as a pragmatist rather than an ideologue, and said that the initiatives of some of his predecessors (Roger Douglas's "Rogernomics" and Ruth Richardson's "Ruthanasia") had focused on "fruitless, theoretical debates" when "people just want to see problems solved".[5][16]

Opposition (1999–2008)[edit]

English in February 2005

After the National Party lost the 1999 election to Helen Clark's Labour Party, English continued on in the shadow cabinet as National's spokesperson for finance. He was elected deputy leader of the party in February 2001, following the resignation of Wyatt Creech, with Gerry Brownlee being his unsuccessful opponent.[17]

Leader of the Opposition[edit]

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. English was elected as her replacement unopposed (with Roger Sowry as his deputy), and consequently became Leader of the Opposition.[18] 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".[19]

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.[20] However, English failed to improve the party's performance. In the 2002 elections, National suffered its worst electoral defeat ever, gaining barely more than twenty percent of the vote. English described it as "the worst day of my political life". Both party insiders and the general public were split as to how much to blame him for the loss, but most of the party believed that English would be able to rebuild National's support.[21]

By late 2003, however, National's performance in opinion polls remained poor. The party had briefly increased its popularity in the year following the election, but by October its support had fallen to levels only slightly better than what it achieved in the last ballot. English also appeared in a boxing match for a charity against entertainer Ted Clarke. This "stunt" did not boost his polling or that of the National party either, with suggestions that it devalued his image as a serious politician. Don Brash, former governor of the Reserve Bank and a relative newcomer to politics, began to build up support to replace English. On 28 October, Brash gained sufficient backing in Caucus to replace English as leader.[22]

Shadow cabinet roles and deputy leader[edit]

On 2 November 2003, when Brash announced changes in responsibilities for certain MPs, English became National's spokesman for education, ranked at fifth place in the party's parliamentary hierarchy. He remained in parliament after the 2005 election. In his new shadow education portfolio, English performed strongly, and remained a party favourite despite his election defeat as leader in 2002, eventually being returned to the finance portfolio in August 2004 as deputy spokesman (while still retaining responsibility for education).[23] After the resignation of Don Brash, English aspired to replace Gerry Brownlee as deputy leader. In November 2006, Brownlee announced that he was stepping aside and English was predicted to take over the deputy leadership and also the finance portfolio. This was confirmed the next day following a caucus meeting.[24]

Involvement in Fifth National Government (2008–present)[edit]

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance (2008–2016)[edit]

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
1990–1993 43rd Wallace National
1993–1996 44th Wallace National
1996–1999 45th Clutha-Southland 9 National
1999–2002 46th Clutha-Southland 4 National
2002–2005 47th Clutha-Southland 1 National
2005–2008 48th Clutha-Southland 4 National
2008–2011 49th Clutha-Southland 2 National
2011–2014 50th Clutha-Southland 2 National
2014–present 51st List 2 National

At the 2008 election, English continued to hold his seat, winning by a margin of about 15,500 votes.[25] He became Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Minister of Finance[26] in the Fifth National Government, being sworn into office on 19 November 2008. He was also made Minister of Infrastructure, an entirely new position,[26] although he held that title for only a single term of parliament.[27]

English announced in November 2013 that he would retire as an electorate MP at the 2014 general election, and contested the election as a party-list candidate only.[28][29]

The pairing of John Key as leader of the National Party and English as his deputy has been compared by political correspondent Gillian Bradford to that of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating (in Australia) and Tony Blair and Gordon Brown (in the UK).[30]

Allowances issue[edit]

In 2009, the media, including TVNZ and TV3 revealed that English was receiving about NZ$900 a week as part of a living allowance for ministers, to live in his own NZ$1.2 million Wellington home. At the time, English also received $276,200 in his annual salary as Deputy Prime Minister.[31][32] It was also revealed other ministers with homes in the capital city were also claiming accommodation allowances.[33] On 3 August 2009, Prime Minister John Key announced a review of the housing allowances claimed by cabinet ministers.[34]

English subsequently announced he would pay back $12,000 and only claim about $24,000 a year in living allowances.[35] The Auditor-General's office said in September 2009 that they were making "preliminary enquiries" into parliamentary housing expenses in response to a letter of complaint from Progressive party leader Jim Anderton.[36] Two days later English announced that he would no longer take up any housing allowance and had paid back all the allowance he had received since the November 2008 election.[37]

Prime Minister (2016–present)[edit]

English with Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett on the steps of Parliament

On 5 December 2016, John Key announced he would resign on 12 December, and endorsed English as his successor in the resulting leadership election.[38] English announced that he would be in the running on 6 December 2016.[39][40] Following the drop-out of both Judith Collins and Jonathan Coleman from the leadership election, he was sworn in as the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand on 12 December 2016.[41]

Political views[edit]

English (left) at a 2011 Anzac Day service in Wellington, alongside Sir Anand Satyanand (centre), the then governor-general.

English has socially conservative views.[42] He is opposed to abortion.[43] English stated his opposition to voluntary euthanasia and physician assisted suicide,[44][45] civil unions,[46] and the decriminalisation of prostitution.[47]

In 2004, English voted against a bill to establish civil unions.[48] In 2005, he voted for the Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill 2005, which would have amended the Marriage Act to define marriage as only between a man and a woman.[49] English voted against the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, a bill that allowed same-sex couples to marry in New Zealand.[50] However, in December 2016 he said "I'd probably vote differently now on the gay marriage issue, I don't think that gay marriage is a threat to anyone else's marriage".[51]

In 2009, English voted against the Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill, a bill aimed at amending the Misuse of Drugs Act so that cannabis could be used for medical purposes.[52]

Personal life[edit]

English met his future wife, Mary Scanlon, at university. She was studying medicine at the time, and became a general practitioner. Both her parents were immigrants, her father being Samoan and her mother Italian, born on the island of Stromboli. They have six children.[53]

English is a practising Roman Catholic,[42] but has stated that he considers his religious beliefs personal and thus separate from politics.[54]

In June 2002, English took part in TV3's Fight For Life, a celebrity boxing fundraiser to raise money for the Yellow Ribbon anti-youth-suicide campaign, influenced by the death of a teenage nephew in 1997. He lost a split decision to former university colleague Ted Clarke.[55]

One of English's brothers, Mervyn, a former Electricity Commission general manager, was appointed to a current Health Sector Forum consultancy.[56]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Being English – National – NZ Herald News". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 December 2016. 
  2. ^ "The English Doctor – Carroll du Chateau". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 December 2016. 
  3. ^ Temple, Philip (1994). Temple's Guide to the 44th New Zealand Parliament. Dunedin: McIndoe Publishers. p. 62. ISBN 0-86868-159-8. 
  4. ^ a b c Patricia Herbert, "A country boy who's set to lead", The New Zealand Herald, 11 August 1997; retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b Marion Rae, "NZ's newly-minted Finance Minister takes office", Reuters, 3 February 1999; retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  6. ^ Joanne Black, "'Dominatrix act' the last straw for Nat plotters", The Evening Post, 9 October 2001; retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2001.
  7. ^ Helen Bain, "Plain English preferred", The Dominion, 2 February 1999. Retrieved From Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  8. ^ Bernard Orsman, "Rapid rise for English", The New Zealand Herald, 1 March 1996. Retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  9. ^ Victoria Main, "All's fair in love and health", The Dominion, 20 May 1997. Retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  10. ^ Brent Edwards, "Villain or hero, he won't give ground", The Evening Post, 23 July 1997. Retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  11. ^ Michael Laws, "The staredown before the Kirton sacking", The Evening Post, 12 August 1997. Retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  12. ^ a b Dave Cannan, "English confident of health role", Otago Daily Times, 6 November 1997. Retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Mr English seeks to cure health reforms", The New Zealand Herald, 20 April 1996. Retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  14. ^ Ruth Laugesen, "English making his mark as reformer Shipley's apprentice", The Dominion, 17 June 1996; retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  15. ^ Chris Trotter, "Who can save National from Bolger's liaison dangereuse?", Independent Business Weekly, 23 May 1997. Retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  16. ^ Guyon Espiner, "Shipley's new men at the top", 3 February 1999; retrieved from Factiva, 12 December 2016.
  17. ^ Ryan Keen, "English scores deputy leader", The Southland Times, 8 February 2001; retrieved from Factiva, 13 December 2016.
  18. ^ Grant Fleming, "Nat MP caucus claps in English", The Evening Post, 9 October 2001. Retrieved from Factiva, 13 October 2001.
  19. ^ "Bill English", The Southland Times, 10 October 2001; retrieved from Factiva, 13 December 2016.
  20. ^ Graeme Hunt, "Death in the afternoon – how the might fall", National Business Review, 12 October 2001. Retrieved from Factiva, 13 December 2016.
  21. ^ Audrey Young, "Is this the future National deserved?", The New Zealand Herald, 30 July 2002. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  22. ^ "Don Brash is the new leader of the National Party". The New Zealand Herald. 28 October 2003. Retrieved 7 November 2009. 
  23. ^ Rt Hon Bill English, New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  24. ^ Tait, Maggie (27 September 2006). "English back from the cold". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 29 September 2009. 
  25. ^ "Election Results 2008: Official Count Results – Clutha-Southland". 
  26. ^ a b "Appointment of Ministers" (21 November 2008) 179 New Zealand Gazette (pg. 4634)
  27. ^ "Resignation of Ministers" (14 December 2011) 193 New Zealand Gazette, govt.nz. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  28. ^ Bennett, Adam (1 November 2013). "English to give up Clutha-Southland seat". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 3 November 2013. 
  29. ^ "Life after Bill". The Southland Times. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014. 
  30. ^ "John Key resignation: Meet Bill English, the likely next Prime Minister of New Zealand", ABC News, 5 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  31. ^ Campbell, Scott (1 August 2009). "Bill English defends allowance for Wellington home". TV3. Retrieved 1 August 2009. 
  32. ^ Young, Audrey. "Key backs $900-a-week subsidy for English home". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2009. 
  33. ^ "Housing allowances review to be launched". TVNZ. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009. 
  34. ^ "Ministerial housing rules to be reviewed". Radio New Zealand. 3 August 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009. 
  35. ^ Young, Audrey (6 August 2009). "English to cut house claims by half". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2009. 
  36. ^ "Auditors look into Bill English's Housing allowances". The Dominion Post. 26 September 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009. 
  37. ^ "Bill English gives up housing allowance". The Dominion Post. 28 September 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009. 
  38. ^ "John Key resigns as Prime Minister of New Zealand, cites family issues for leaving". The New Zealand Herald. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016. 
  39. ^ "Bill English: Why I'm standing for Prime Minister". The New Zealand Herald. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016. 
  40. ^ "The race for Prime Minister gets crowded – It's Bill English, Jonathan Coleman and now Judith Collins". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 December 2016. 
  41. ^ "The race to be PM: how it happened". Radionz.co.nz. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016. 
  42. ^ a b Roy, Eleanor Ainge (8 December 2016). "Bill English: the Catholic conservative who will be New Zealand's next PM". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 December 2016. 
  43. ^ Laugesen, Ruth (4 September 2004). "Abortion: is the argument over?". Sunday Star-Times. 
  44. ^ Euthanasia bill dies in NZ Parliament, Australasian Bioethics Information, 86, 1 August 2003.
  45. ^ Death with Dignity Bill – First Reading, Hansard, New Zealand House of Representatives, 30 July 2003
  46. ^ Claridge, Anna (25 April 2006). "Civil unions 'waste of time'". The Press. 
  47. ^ Luke, Peter; Wellwood, Elinore (13 October 2001). "The politician". The Southland Times. 
  48. ^ "Civil Unions Act – New Zealand Parliamentary Conscience Votes Database". Votes.wotfun.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016. 
  49. ^ "Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill – First Reading". New Zealand Parliament. 7 December 2005. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2012. 
  50. ^ "Gay marriage: How MPs voted". The New Zealand Herald. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2016. 
  51. ^ "Bill English changes view on gay marriage". Newshub. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016. 
  52. ^ "Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill – First Reading". Hansard. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand House of Representatives. 655: 4850. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2016. 
  53. ^ "The English Doctor", The New Zealand Herald, 7 December 2001. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  54. ^ James, Colin (2 December 2006). "Bill English conservative: a 2000s update". New Zealand Herald Weekend Review. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. English doesn't talk easily about his faith. It is personal and the personal and the political are separate, he says. 
  55. ^ "Bill English goes back to rolling with the punches". The New Zealand Herald. 8 June 2002. Retrieved 20 September 2011. 
  56. ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5598574/Englishs-brother-lands-big-contract

External links[edit]

New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
Derek Angus		 Member of Parliament
for Wallace
1990–1996		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament
for Clutha-Southland
1996–2014		 Succeeded by
Todd Barclay
Political offices
Preceded by
Jenny Shipley		 Minister of Health
1996–1999		 Succeeded by
Wyatt Creech
Preceded by
Bill Birch		 Minister of Finance
1999		 Succeeded by
Bill Birch
Treasurer of New Zealand
1999		 Succeeded by
Michael Cullen
Preceded by
Jenny Shipley		 Leader of the Opposition
2001–2003		 Succeeded by
Don Brash
Preceded by
Michael Cullen		 Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
2008–2016		 Succeeded by
Paula Bennett
Minister of Finance
2008–2016		 Succeeded by
Steven Joyce
New office Minister of Infrastructure
2008–2011		 Position abolished
Minister for the Housing New Zealand Corporation
2014–2016		 Succeeded by
Amy Adams
Preceded by
John Key		 Prime Minister of New Zealand
2016–present		 Incumbent
Minister of National Security and Intelligence
2016–present
Party political offices
Preceded by
Wyatt Creech		 Deputy Leader of the National Party
2001		 Succeeded by
Roger Sowry
Preceded by
Jenny Shipley		 Leader of the National Party
2001–2003		 Succeeded by
Don Brash
Preceded by
Gerry Brownlee		 Deputy Leader of the National Party
2006–2016		 Succeeded by
Paula Bennett
Preceded by
John Key		 Leader of the National Party
2016–present		 Incumbent
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