Posts by Henry Barnard
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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all…, in reply to Hebe,
It brings out the unhinged.
You mean something like this?
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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all…, in reply to Hilary Stace,
Only last week that was manifested in Labour’s refusal to support Green MP Catherine Delahunty’s bill to clean up the heavily polluted Tarawera River. The decision by Labour to block vote against was criticised by many clean water enthusiasts. I hope the new leadership will be more willing to side with the environment
Completely agree. It will be interesting to see what emerges on the leadership hustings about the Labour/Green relationship. During the Shearer/Cunliffe leadership road show in 2011 a defining moment for me was the way two responded to a question about that relationship: Shearer quite clearly identifying the Greens as an enemy that needed to be fought and Cunliffe talking about cooperation.
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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all…, in reply to Hebe,
deserves no trust until proven otherwise
And what would that proof be?
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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all…, in reply to Russell Brown,
But can we all agree that the fundamental barrier to an Ardern-led party is that she’s not standing for the leadership?
Yes. And this time the hustings will be solo affairs, unencumbered by a running mate. The deputy leader will still be selected by caucus once the leader has been elected.
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Hard News: So long, and thanks for all…, in reply to Sacha,
that would be good
Splitter!
I am one of those who felt Cunliffe should have been selected the first time round. I attended the `Shearer/Robertson vs Cunliffe/Mahuta' Road show' and my impression was that, in spite of Shearer being a `nice guy' he did not (a) have enough experience, (b) was a poor communicator and (c) simply did not know enough about Labour policy to be selected leader However, though my preferred candidate, I also had qualms about Cunliffe because of rumours of an ABC club: I wondered, if that were true, how someone like that could bring the caucus together behind him - added to that Nanaia Mahuta also was not very impressive.
Shearer then proceeded to confirm all the concerns I had including and especially after his handling of the `challenge' (which felt very manufactured) at the time of the last Labour party conference. In the aftermath, he certainly showed he had not learnt Clark's lesson about keeping his enemies closest to himself. He remained inexperienced, inept at communication, and completely at a loss when it came to grasping and articulating policy. I think now that ANY of the names that have now been put forward (with the possible exception of Shane Jones) would do a better job that Shearer has done.
That said, if Cunliffe puts his hand up, he will be getting my vote. And ff there are ABCers in caucus they should be considering their futures regardless of the outcome of this round. Sadly, it seems only people who I believe probably would have supported Cunliiffe within causus (Dalziel/Chauvel) who have gone to other pastures.