Bill English

The Right Honourable Bill English MP
39th Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 12 December 2016 – 26 October 2017
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Dame Patsy Reddy
Deputy	Paula Bennett
Preceded by	John Key
Succeeded by	Jacinda Ardern
29th Leader of the Opposition
In office 26 October 2017 – 27 February 2018
Deputy	Paula Bennett
Preceded by	Jacinda Ardern
Succeeded by	Simon Bridges
In office 8 October 2001 – 28 October 2003
Deputy	Roger Sowry
Preceded by	Jenny Shipley
Succeeded by	Don Brash
9th Leader of the National Party
In office 12 December 2016 – 27 February 2018
Deputy	Paula Bennett
Preceded by	John Key
Succeeded by	Simon Bridges
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
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 House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 September 2014
Constituency	National Party List
In office 12 October 1996 – 20 September 2014
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Todd Barclay
Constituency	Clutha-Southland
In office 27 October 1990 – 12 October 1996
Preceded by	Derek Angus
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Constituency	Wallace
Personal details
Born	Simon William English (1961-12-30) 30 December 1961 (age 63) Lumsden, New Zealand
Political party	National
Spouse(s)	Mary Scanlon
Children	6
Alma mater	University of Otago Victoria University
Signature
Website	Official website

Sir Simon William "Bill" English (born 30 December 1961) is a New Zealand politician. He was the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2016 to 2017 and the leader of the National Party. He was previously Deputy Prime Minister from 2008 to 2016.

At the 2017 general election, National won the largest share of the party vote (44.4%) and the largest number of seats (56) in the House Representatives.^[1]

However, National lacked enough seats to govern alone due to two of the party's support partners, the Māori Party and United Future, losing their parliamentary seats. In response, English announced that the party would be entering into talks to form a coalition with New Zealand First.^[2][3] However, on 19 October 2017, Jacinda Ardern became the next Prime Minister after Winston Peters announced he would enter a coalition government with Labour.^[4]

1. ↑ "2017 General Election – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
2. ↑ Wright, Tony (23 September 2017). "Bill English reaches out to Winston Peters". Newshub. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
3. ↑ Moir, Jo (7 October 2017). "Election Results: Labour and Greens gain two seats, National loses two". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
4. ↑ Moir, Jo (19 October 2017). "Labour finally retake power after Winston Peters gives Jacinda Ardern his support". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2017.