- In full:
- Simon William English
- Born:
- December 30, 1961, Lumsden, New Zealand (age 64)
- Title / Office:
- prime minister (2016-2017), New Zealand
- Political Affiliation:
- New Zealand National Party
Bill English
-
Who is Bill English?
Bill English, born on December 30, 1961, is a New Zealand politician who became the leader of the National Party and Prime Minister in December 2016, following the unexpected resignation of John Key.
English's political career began in 1990 when he was elected to the House of Representatives. He quickly rose through the ranks, serving as health minister, treasurer, and finance minister. He became party leader in 2001 but was replaced in 2003. After the National Party's victory in 2008, he became Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister under John Key, maintaining steady economic growth.
Key's resignation led to English becoming Prime Minister in December 2016. In the September 2017 general election, the National Party won approximately 46% of the vote but not enough for a majority. After failing to form a coalition government, English stepped down as party leader and retired from politics in February 2018.
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When did Bill English serve as the Prime Minister of New Zealand?
Bill English became the prime minister of New Zealand and leader of the National Party in December 2016, after John Key's unexpected resignation. English served as prime minister until October 2017. In the September 2017 general election, the National Party won about 46 percent of the vote, but it was not enough to establish majority rule. After special votes were counted, the National Party lost two seats, and a coalition government was formed, led by the Labour Party and Jacinda Ardern. In February 2018, English retired from politics.
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What political party did Bill English belong to?
Bill English was a member of the New Zealand National Party. He joined the party in 1980 and was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1990.
English became the leader of the National Party in December 2016, when John Key resigned, and served as prime minister until October 2017. In February 2018, he stepped down as party leader and gave up his seat in the House of Representatives.
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What important roles did Bill English have before becoming Prime Minister?
Before becoming Prime Minister in December 2016, Bill English held several significant roles in New Zealand politics. In 1990, he was elected to the House of Representatives representing the Wallace (now Clutha-Southland) district. He became the health minister in 1996 and also served as treasurer and finance minister. After a period as spokesperson on education and the Security Intelligence Service, he became the spokesperson on finance when Key became party leader. Following the National Party's victory in the 2008 election, English was appointed minister of finance and deputy prime minister in the government headed by Key.
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What were some challenges Bill English faced as Prime Minister?
Bill English became Prime Minister of New Zealand in December 2016, following the unexpected resignation of John Key.
One of the challenges English faced was uniting the National Party and maintaining its stability after Key's departure.
English projected an image of governmental assurance as he led the National Party into the September 2017 general election. A significant challenge emerged with the rise of Jacinda Ardern, the new Labour Party leader, who energized younger voters.
In the election, the National Party won approximately 46% of the vote, securing 58 seats, but it wasn't enough to form a majority government. English then had to negotiate to form a coalition government. Ultimately, the New Zealand First party chose to form a coalition government with the Labour Party, leading to another election loss for English.
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How did Bill English impact New Zealand during his time as Prime Minister?
Bill English became prime minister of New Zealand in December 2016, following John Key's resignation. Previously, he served as Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister, playing a significant role in New Zealand's economic recovery following the 2008-09 global financial crisis under Key’s leadership.
As prime minister, English led the National Party in the September 2017 general election. The party won approximately 46% of the vote, securing 58 seats in the House of Representatives. Despite the National Party's strong performance, it wasn't enough to form a majority government. English then sought a coalition with the New Zealand First party, but ultimately, Labour formed a coalition government.
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Bill English (born December 30, 1961, Lumsden, New Zealand) is a New Zealand politician who became leader of the National Party and prime minister of New Zealand in December 2016 when three-time prime minister John Key unexpectedly resigned. English served as prime minister until October 2017 and as party leader until February 2018.
English grew up in a large family on a 125-year-old farm in the Southland region of New Zealand. After attending St. Patrick’s College, a Catholic boys boarding school in suburban Wellington, he matriculated at Otago University (B.A. Commerce) and Victoria University (B.A. English Literature) and then returned to Southland to begin a brief career as a farmer. In 1980 he joined the National Party, and in 1990 he was first elected to the House of Representatives representing the Wallace (now Clutha-Southland) district.
English distinguished himself early in his political career, and his rise through the ranks of the National Party was swift. In 1996 he became health minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister James Bolger, and he also served as treasurer and finance minister (among other posts) before the government headed by Jennifer Shipley was voted out of office in 1999. Having replaced Shipley as party leader in 2001, English led the National Party in the 2002 general election, in which it was trounced by the Labour Party and popular Prime Minister Helen Clark. In 2003 English was replaced as party leader by Don Brash, for whom English served as spokesperson on education and the Security Intelligence Service. When Key became party leader, English assumed the mantle of spokesperson on finance. Following the National Party’s victory in the 2008 election, English became minister of finance and deputy prime minister in the government headed by Key. Under English’s direction New Zealand’s economy maintained steady growth during Key’s three terms as prime minister.
The charismatic, gregarious Key and the more laconic self-deprecating English formed an effective partnership, and, when Key surprised New Zealanders with the announcement of his resignation in December 2016 (to be able to spend more time with his family), he threw his support to English as his successor. English faced an initial challenge for the leadership from Jonathan Coleman, the health minister, and Judith Collins, the corrections minister, but they both withdrew their candidacies when it became clear that English had the support necessary to become party leader and prime minister. He took office on December 12.
Projecting the image of an assured experienced hand on the tiller of government, English led the party into the September 2017 general election. Opinion polling had forecast a poor showing in the election for the Labour Party, but in early August 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern took over as Labour leader and seemingly energized younger voters. In the event, the National Party captured about 46 percent of the vote and 58 seats in the 120-seat House of Representatives, not quite enough to establish majority rule. Labour took about 36 percent of the vote and 45 seats, but it had the support of the Green Party, winner of seven seats in the election. With special votes (those by New Zealanders who were overseas or who had registered to vote on polling day) still to be counted, both English and Ardern began courting the populist New Zealand First party (winners of nine seats) as a potential partner in a coalition government.
The tallying of those special votes resulted in the loss of two seats for the National Party. After protracted negotiations, on October 19, 2017, Winston Peters, the leader of New Zealand First, announced that his party would be entering a coalition government led by Labour and Ardern. Once again English had been at the helm for a National Party election loss. In February 2018 English announced that he was retiring from politics, and shortly thereafter he stepped down as party leader and gave up his seat in the House of Representatives.