, ▁it ▁is ▁the ▁only ▁party ▁that ▁has ▁attempted ▁to ▁paint ▁itself ▁as ▁representing ▁rural ▁vot ers ▁above ▁all ▁else ", ▁ ▁In ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 5 ▁party ▁leader ▁John ▁Anderson ▁announced ▁that ▁he ▁would ▁res ign ▁from ▁the ▁min istry ▁and ▁as ▁Le ader ▁of ▁the ▁National s ▁due ▁to ▁a ▁ben ign ▁pro state ▁condition , ▁he ▁was ▁succeeded ▁by ▁Mark ▁Va ile . ▁At ▁the ▁following ▁election ▁the ▁National s ▁vote ▁decl ined ▁further , ▁with ▁the ▁party ▁winning ▁a ▁mere ▁ 5 . 4 % ▁of ▁the ▁vote ▁and ▁se cur ing ▁only ▁ 1 0 ▁seats . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁under ▁the ▁leadership ▁of ▁Warren ▁Tr uss ▁the ▁party ▁received ▁its ▁lowest ▁vote ▁to ▁date , ▁at ▁only ▁ 3 . 4 %, ▁however ▁they ▁secured ▁a ▁slight ▁increase ▁in ▁seats ▁from ▁ 1 0 ▁to ▁ 1 2 . ▁At ▁the ▁following ▁election ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁the ▁national ▁Party ' s ▁fort unes ▁improved ▁slightly ▁with ▁a ▁vote ▁of ▁ 4 . 2 % ▁and ▁an ▁increase ▁in ▁seats ▁from ▁ 1 2 ▁to ▁ 1 5 . ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁Double ▁dissol ution ▁election , ▁under ▁the ▁Le ad ership ▁of ▁Bar nab y ▁Joy ce ▁the ▁party ▁secured ▁ 4 . 6 % ▁of ▁the ▁vote ▁and ▁ 1 6 ▁seats . ▁In ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁reports ▁emer ged ▁that ▁the ▁National ▁Party ▁leader ▁and ▁Deput y