The sad thing for the National Party is that this latest outbreak of "foot in mouth" is not the first of the brief but memorable tenure of the National leader. Just to run through a few highlights: "Abortion is tantamount to murder.", "Low-income people are bottom feeders.", "Let's get rid of Labour Day.", "Sam Uffindell is bringing what's missing from the National caucus: intellect.", and "New Zealanders have gone soft." The last few weeks have been a study in what is, and what is not, leadership. Leadership is not what we have seen from Mr Luxon, going overseas and telling an audience at a right-wing thinktank what he thinks they want to hear and slagging off your own country. Leadership is what the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, showed over the recess, getting out there signing free-trade agreements, leading business delegations, and getting the first positive movement in decades on the rights of New Zealanders in Australia. The contrast could not be clearer.