Prime Minister Bill English: majority of MPs publicly declare support

The formal caucus vote won't take place until next Monday, but National's leadership contest is effectively over.

More than 30 National MPs have now publicly declared support for Bill English, giving him a majority (scroll down for a list of those who did — or didn't — publically express support).

Taranaki-King Country MP Barbara Kuriger tweeted her support at 1.12pm to put Mr English over the line. The finance minister started the day with only 10 MPs in the bag. But as National Party pollster David Farrar kept a very public tally ("Whomever gets to be No 30 gets to be In cabinet" he quipped at one point") the trickle became a deluge.

His actual level of support is likely higher. This morning NBR Political Editor Rob Hosking put it at around 40 of the 59-member caucus.

A grand total of zero MPs declared for Jonathan Coleman or Judith Collins.

Attention now turns to the race for deputy, where Simon Bridges is facing off against Paula Bennett — and where the outcome is much less certain. Mr English has not endorsed either candidate. Commentator Matthew Hooton thinks Mr Bridges has it by a nose (it was also not immediately clear if Ms Collins or Mr Coleman would join the deputy stoush).

Another open question was, "Who will be Finance Minister?" Mr English has just delivered the answer: Steven Joyce (for more, see Rob Hosking's report English picks Joyce for his finance minister, unveils large surpluses).

Mr English said earlier that he would yield the portfolio if elected leader.

Publically declared for Bill English

1. John Key
2. Bill English
3. Nikki Kaye
4. Michael Woodhouse
5. Nathan Guy
6. Nick Smith
7. Anne Tolley
8. Louise Upston
9. Hekia Parata
10. Murray McCully
11. Simon Bridges
12. Paul Goldsmith
13. Nuk Korako
14. Sarah Dowie
15. Chester Borrows
16. Paul Foster-Bell
17. Paula Bennett
18. Brett Hudson
19. Jacqui Dean
20. Jami-Lee Ross
21. Todd Muller
22. Amy Adams
23. Chris Bishop
24. Jo Hayes
25. Mark Mitchell
26. Chris Finlayson
27. Jonathan Young
28. Todd Barclay
29. Alfred Ngaro
30. Jono Naylor
31. Barbara Kuriger
32. Gerry Brownlee

Not publically declared support for any candidate

1. Judith Collins*
2. Jonathan Coleman*
3. Steven Joyce**
4. Maurice Williamson
5. David Carter
6. Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga
7. Maggie Barry
8. Craig Foss
9. Jo Goodhew
10. Todd McClay
11. Nicky Wagner
12. Lindsay Tisch
13. Tim Macindoe
14. Melissa Lee
15. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi 
16. Jian Yang
17. David Bennett
18. Ian McKelvie
19. Simon O'Connor
20. Scott Simpson
21. Parmjeet Parmar
22. Andrew Bayly
23. Matt Doocey
24. Shane Reti
25. Alastair Scott
26. Stuart Smith
27. Maureen Pugh

* After dropping out this afternoon, after Bill English crossed the 30 threshold, Ms Collins recommended her supporters vote for Mr English. Later in the day, Mr Coleman did the same. But in terms of political brownie points, it only matters who endorsed the man from Dipton before he had the leadership in the bag. Matthew Hooton says the new leadership could be "somewhat vindictive," with Collins and Coleman effectively ruled out for promotion.

** Not everyone on the list will be in for some utu. It seems Steven Joyce, now of course the incoming finance minister, was remaining diplomatically neutral