Clean and neat

Written By: - Date published: 7:41 am, September 18th, 2013 - 87 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, david parker, labour, leadership - Tags:

Paddy Gower’s gleeful predictions of ‘blood on the floor’ of caucus didn’t happen. Tracy Watkins’ unrealistic demand that Grant Robertson (whom she incorrectly thought would win the leadership race) be retained as deputy was never going to happen. What we saw was a neat, least moves action that puts the economy front and centre of Labour’s brand.

David Parker is now Bill English’s opposite – the deputy leader and finance spokesperson. Like English (and Cullen before them) Parker is not inspirational or charismatic, in his own words ‘I’m me, I don’t want to be a used car salesman like Key’. Instead, he is a safe pair of hands that people are comfortable with running the economy. Like English is to Key, Parker will be to Cunliffe – a strong, economically-focused pair, the leader inspirational, the deputy the rock.

Making Robertson shadow leader of the House is a really smart move. It gives Robertson a position with the profile and responsibility that he deserves and it removes the Mallard problem. Mallard can’t even be too upset, when it’s the man he backed taking his job.

Mallard couldn’t be left in a senior position given his extensive talking campaign against Cunliffe over the years. The same was true of Hipkins. They’re neatly moved aside, too.

These moves were logical and calmly done. No ‘blood on the floor’, no vindictiveness, and little ground for complaint from those demoted. And, just as importantly, they were done cleanly and with authority. No more vacillating, weak leadership for Labour.

87 comments on “Clean and neat ”

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  1. Colonial Viper 1
    18 September 2013 at 8:07 am

    This is a very good start to Cunliffe’s leadership, but its only a start. Its crucial that momentum be kept up now in order for Labour to look and sound completely different to Shearer and Goff’s Labour. Cunliffe is delivering on that now but his top team is going to have to start pulling in the same direction and style very fast.

    One thing which has to go: those bloodless, passionless Wellington-speak, not-news press releases that Labour under Shearer used to issue by the dozen. It was no surprise that hardly any of them ever got picked up.

    • Raymond a Francis 1.1
      18 September 2013 at 8:30 am

      It was a good, well considered tidy up. Still a lot of dead wood but that is how these things are

      I would suggest from Hipkins.and Mallards point of view their was some blood in the water but hardly unexpected
      And a warning to some others in caucus “chorus”

      • Colonial Viper 1.1.1
        18 September 2013 at 8:35 am

        Nice one Raymond.

        • Poneke 1.1.1.1
          18 September 2013 at 9:06 am

          “Wellington-speak” ? Colonial, I’m generally in agreement with you – but not this time.

          Wellingtonians come in many shapes and sizes, have diverse opinions, speak in many accents, argots, languages, tounges, and professional jargons. Even parliamentarians have been known to occasionally use the language of the street, of the people – of voters, in fact. Strange, that.

          “bloodless, passionless Wellington-speak, not-news press releases that Labour under Shearer used to issue by the dozen” refers to a failed political experiment rooted in patronage from a time when Lange was undermined by his own .. documented by Alister Barry among others.

          It is not characteristic of the Wellington that I know – and, no, that is not Parliament.

          Wellington, unlike George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland, was an effective leader whose politics I do not share – but we need more people who can apply hard-won relevant experience in these times.

          • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.1
            18 September 2013 at 9:09 am

            🙂

            Yes I may have been using a very narrow definition of “Wellington”….

          • Virginia Linton 1.1.1.1.2
            18 September 2013 at 10:05 am

            Plenty of Wellington people were for Cunliffe, in fact I didn’t talk to many who planned to vote Robertson. The voting result speaks for itself.

          • Crunchtime 1.1.1.1.3
            18 September 2013 at 3:05 pm

            I’m from Wellington and proud of this beautiful city. But I know he was using “Wellington-speak” meaning bland poltician-speak. No offense taken here. 🙂

      • phillip ure 1.1.2
        18 September 2013 at 9:50 am

        and of course..mallards blood-letting was into san francisco bay/his champagne-glass..

        ..such a long long way away..we couldn’t even see it..

        ..and yes..replacing mallard with robertson was a neat touch..

        ..all mallard can really do is sit in his lycra..and smoulder..

        ..(which could get a bit ‘ew!’ if allowed to continue for too long..)

        ..and @ viper..re press-releases..

        ..aye..!..i sit and wonder at the fact that people who pen them were apparantly hired for their writing skills…

        ..press-releases inevitably seem to be able to render the most exciting news/info into dire/dead-thickets of impenatrable-prose..

        ..more to be picked up with a pair of tongs..and viewed with distaste from afar..

        ..than sat down and read..

        ..is that where all the bad writers go to ‘earn’..?

        ..whoar..!

        ..eh.?

        ..phillip ure..

        • Frida 1.1.2.1
          18 September 2013 at 10:58 am

          Philip, just wanted to say how much I love your contributions! They always make me smile into my morning coffee and are worth persevering through the “different” formatting!
          Cheers!

          [lprent: Since the amnesty, he has been a more circumspect about link-whoring which is what I used to notice him for. His comments are far more in context as well.

          The formatting I could live with (or even better without). But if you jump to his site you will find a *lot* more. ]

          • phillip ure 1.1.2.1.1
            18 September 2013 at 11:45 am

            chrs frida..

            phillip ure..

            • Crunchtime 1.1.2.1.1.1
              18 September 2013 at 3:09 pm

              Uh yeah, I would prefer proper grammar and punctuation. Ure has a lot of good things to say but I often skip them as too hard to read! Sorry Phillip. I suggest it would be more professional to use a conventional layout and your points would come across much better… and much easier to read.

              • Saarbo …
                18 September 2013 at 4:43 pm

                Ohhh…I dont know about that Crunchtime, I quite enjoy the rhythm of PU comments, they leave a bit more for the imagination to work on, sort of poetic. One of my favourite books is The Book of Fame by Loyd Jones, sort of reminds me of that book. Keep it coming PU.

              • weka …
                18 September 2013 at 9:40 pm

                Like Crunchtime, I usualy skip Phillip’s comments as they are too hard to read, format-wise. Which is a shame, I’d like to read them.

              • marty mars …
                18 September 2013 at 11:16 pm

                I like the way you write phil – it reminds me of Irving Welsh’s style of writing where you have to be in it, to read it – I’m not sure how others read but I sort of read aloud in my head. As wiki says about Welsh, ” Instead, he transcribes dialects phonetically.” As in, “That’s spot on man … eh … ye goat it … ah mean … nae hassle likesay.” Whilst your style is a bit different to that it seems in the same family. The length of 1.1.2. was about right for me – at a page without having to scroll down, I do find the longer they are, the harder they get to read – but that could just be me. Anyway… just some thoughts that are given with the best intentions. Kia kaha.

    • bad12 1.2
      18 September 2013 at 8:46 am

      There shouldn’t be a problem in that area with Shane Jones, if He is true to form in ‘Economic Development’ He won’t be heard of again until sometime after November 2014…

      • phillip ure 1.2.1
        18 September 2013 at 9:55 am

        recent/post-race tv appearances from jones show him having already hit the snooze-button..

        ..and..and..penthouse has filed for bankruptcy..

        ..shaney might be stirred enough to propose the economic-development of relocating penthouse to kaitaia..?

        ..with him overseeing all the ‘shoots’..?

        ..the idea/thought of that might arouse him…from his whatever…eh..?

        ..phillip ure..

      • George D 1.2.2
        18 September 2013 at 10:08 am

        No, you’ll hear him at some point talking about oil and gas drilling, and how the Greens hate Maori and working New Zealanders because they’re in favour of a liveable climate and oil-free beaches.

        If he’s put on a tight reign and directed to give all his attention to National, his position might work.

      • Murray Olsen 1.2.3
        18 September 2013 at 6:09 pm

        bad12, you’ve just reminded me that every cloud has a silver lining. In this case, made from 30 pieces donated by the mining lobby.

    • Mary 1.3
      18 September 2013 at 10:12 pm

      Cunliffe calling the crony capitalism on the fishing limit palaver was refreshing to see and what an opposition is supposed to be about. Looking forward to seeing regular attacks like this on Nact’s many obvious weaknesses. Good to see, finally, but this work needs to be commonplace again. Imagine Shearer saying “crony capitalism” in the House. Nobody would’ve blinked an eyelid. What a difference.

  2. felix 2
    18 September 2013 at 8:20 am

    Did you just describe Key as “inspirational”?

    • Colonial Viper 2.1
      18 September 2013 at 8:24 am

      Bloody hell. Lol.

    • Enough is Enough 2.2
      18 September 2013 at 8:51 am

      Also Cullen as not been charismatic or inspirational.

      He was the most charistmatic in the previous Labour government.

      Notwithstanding, I agree with your post. A clean transition to the a future half of the Green/Labour Government.

      Well done Labour

      • bad12 2.2.1
        18 September 2013 at 9:01 am

        Obviously yesterdays slight ‘stumble’ in the House should be regarded as a one off…

        • Te Reo Putake 2.2.1.1
          18 September 2013 at 9:09 am

          Yep. I was reminded of Cunliffe’s speech to the Levin hustings meeting, which, as I wrote at the time, wasn’t flash. But he went on to improve dramatically over the next few meetings and won handsomely. Which is exactly whats going to happen over the next 12 months in Parliament and in the election.

        • King Kong 2.2.1.2
          18 September 2013 at 9:18 am

          Many here didn’t extend that courtesy to Shearer. Looking forward to the moniker “Major Fuckup” coming into usage.

          • bad12 2.2.1.2.1
            18 September 2013 at 9:27 am

            That one i am afraid is already taken, Slippery’s National Government since the GCSB Legislation is simply that,

            A ‘major f**kup’ of monumental proportions,

            Roy Morgan says it best, 47% one minute, the next 41% and Slip sliding away…

        • Enough is Enough 2.2.1.3
          18 September 2013 at 9:19 am

          Lets hope so. We will find out today won’t we.

          As important as the copper tax issue is, I think he should be kicking off with something which resonates with the lost 800,000 a bit more.

          • bad12 2.2.1.3.1
            18 September 2013 at 9:40 am

            Lolz, i am just being a bit naughty, the debating chamber is a hard ask of a place for anyone to score ‘hits’,

            At the moment Russell Norman does it best, He seems to have this innate ability to get whichever Minister is up for the days interrogation to attempt to lie, either blatantly or by omission,

            Yesterday it was Nick Smith’s turn to be made to look a fool, admittedly Russell didn’t have much work to do there,

            Cunliffe pretty soon i would think needs to be out and about touring the country with ‘the message’ where He is likely to be far more effective,

            The 800,000, it’s only ‘words’ at the moment and i would suggest will remain so until such time as Labour can put forward the policies likely to move them…

            • Strategos 2.2.1.3.1.1
              18 September 2013 at 9:54 am

              “Cunliffe pretty soon i would think needs to be out and about touring the country with ‘the message’ where He is likely to be far more effective,”

              ++1

              [lprent: suspected astroturfer now on auto-spam until I get an explanation. ]

              • phillip ure …
                18 September 2013 at 10:16 am

                i disagree with the descriptions of cunnliffe not being up to it in the house..

                ..i think his approach yesterday was the correct one..and one he should continue..

                ..he showed the gravitas/intellect of a prime minister-in-waiting..

                ..whereas key was the clown..

                ..and going on doing commentaries on q-time/and having seen them all in action..

                ..i can’t see any others in labour up to the job..

                ..and i noted yesterday how i am so looking forward to commenting on the tag-team of cunnliffe and norman..

                ..between them they will be able to chew up and spit out anyone in national..key included..

                ..and make no mistake..national know this..

                ..if you doubt me..go and watch the faces/eyes of those who surround key..during the first minutes of yesterdays’ q-time..

                ..they couldn’t be further from the gloating triumphalism we are so used to..

                ..and as for the criticisims of parker..?

                ..they too are unfounded..

                ..i too have taken the piss out of him for his ‘parker’-like/boyish looks..

                ..(‘boyish’-looks he will appreciate more and more..the older he gets..eh..?..)

                ..but parker is another who is totally on top of his subjects-matter..

                ..the/his intellect is clear and present..

                ..and the biggest battle against english for him..

                ..will be trying to find some way of countering that powerful soporific-voice-effect that english has/so successfully deploys..

                ..(i have suggested before that the collected speeches of english/joyce should be marketed as a sleep-aid..and i don’t resile from that recommendation..)

                ..parker is/will be fine..

                ..cunnliffe will be fine..

                ..norman will be fine..

                ..it’s all looking pretty fine..

                ..phillip ure..

                • JK …
                  18 September 2013 at 11:45 am

                  “..if you doubt me..go and watch the faces/eyes of those who surround key..during the first minutes of yesterdays’ q-time..

                  “..they couldn’t be further from the gloating triumphalism we are so used to..”

                  Not only that, Phillip Ure, but they all had their detailed notes to hand so they could answer Opposition questions properly. No more clowning around with the buffoon Shearer. ShonKey was taking Cunliffe seriously. That was very obvious. A good start for Cunliffe. AND for Parker too – he looked and sounded on top of his game.

                  And with Norman bringing up the rear to embarrass Nick Smith, the Opposition had it in spades yesterday. Long may it last !

                  • phillip ure …
                    18 September 2013 at 1:35 pm

                    and of course..when key is pointing his ‘colourless’-finger @ parker..

                    ..his other three ‘colourless’-fingers are pointing back @ english/joyce..and brownlee..

                    ..eh..?

                    ..next to those three dull/spluttering candles parker is ‘literally’..a pulsating rainbow of neon..

                    ..eh..?

                    ..phillip ure..

            • Te Reo Putake 2.2.1.3.1.2
              18 September 2013 at 10:03 am

              “Cunliffe pretty soon i would think needs to be out and about touring the country with ‘the message’ where He is likely to be far more effective,”

              Oooh, the biblical He! I know some folk think DC walks on water, but elevation to Godlike status may be a tad premature 😉

              • bad12 …
                18 September 2013 at 10:10 am

                Lolz, far from it, should David (the incumbent) keep up the mangle-ization of the English language ‘the questions’ will start to be ‘unhappily’ asked…

              • AmaKiwi …
                18 September 2013 at 10:17 am

                At local meetings you speak to 50 to 100 people at best. On the television news you speak to tens of thousands.

                Cunliffe’s time is best spend serving up snappy news sound bites. What’s more, he’s good at it. Unfortunately, so is Key.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  18 September 2013 at 11:41 am

                  Definitely. The reach of TV is good. But we can’t discount small personal meetings entirely as they are the ones where a politician can gain activists, convert people to the cause, and gain local reputation and credibility which is crucial for later electorate by electorate campaigning.

                  The example is that of Winston Peters pre 2011 election. No parliamentary position to campaign from, he simply campaigned up and down the country visiting big and small towns, talking to crowds as big as 100 or as small as 8 or 10, successfully bringing in several MPs into Parliament.

                  • bad12 …
                    18 September 2013 at 1:14 pm

                    Yep, Helen Clark was also said to be a whizz at it, small gatherings create ripples out into communities…

        • fender 2.2.1.4
          18 September 2013 at 9:28 am

          Well it better not be a one-off, how can the press possibly sing the chorus if the caucus won’t serve up couscous.

        • Winston Smith 2.2.1.5
          18 September 2013 at 9:56 am

          You hope, Cunliffes got what he wanted but now he has to deliver against one of the best we’ve had

          • bad12 2.2.1.5.1
            18 September 2013 at 10:07 am

            Yes indeed, we have had Him up to our eyeballs for the past 5 years, the ‘comedian’ and the ‘used car salesman’,

            ‘Had’ being the operative word, the shine has worn off the Slippery one, 47% one month 41 the next,

            i hear the sound of sharpening knives being honed in the foundry, all bearing the name J.Collins and Co…

          • thatguynz 2.2.1.5.2
            18 September 2013 at 10:20 am

            One of the best what? I can only assume you are referring to Key’s other skills rather than his ability to run the country?

            • Winston Smith 2.2.1.5.2.1
              18 September 2013 at 11:17 am

              Doesn’t say much for what Labour had then doesn’t it

              • fender …
                18 September 2013 at 11:31 am

                You don’t say much when you employ a mangled version of English. This Key fuckwit has really rubbed off on you.

              • thatguynz …
                18 September 2013 at 2:15 pm

                What Labour had? Again, I can only assume you are speaking in terms of country leadership. So are you suggesting therefore that Key is better than any Labour PM in history?

                I know you are trying to make a point but to be honest mate, you’re doing a pretty crap job of it.

                • Winston Smith …
                  18 September 2013 at 2:40 pm

                  He went up against Clark, Goff, saw off Shearer and is now onto Cunliffe…he can only defeat those that Labour select to go against him

                  • fender …
                    18 September 2013 at 2:58 pm

                    “….you better get yourself a new line
                    ’cause that shit just ain’t worth selling”

                    Jon Toogood must have been singing about you

                  • thatguynz …
                    18 September 2013 at 3:20 pm

                    So he’s 2 from 3 against the previous Labour leaders? OK, at least now your point has some substance. So let’s just hypothesise that Cunliffe gets the better of Key which is a pretty reasonable assumption. That would then mean Key is batting .500. If you are suggesting that he’s one of the best leaders that National has had on that (pretty average) basis, then I’d suggest you guys need to elevate your expectations of your leaders…

          • fender 2.2.1.5.3
            18 September 2013 at 10:42 am

            Bernie Madoff is one of the best your lot have had.

      • Tim 2.2.2
        18 September 2013 at 11:08 am

        (“charasmatic” apparently took on a new meaning when someone called John Key came to power)

  3. The Al1en 3
    18 September 2013 at 8:29 am

    “Mallard can’t even be too upset”

    He will be, he just won’t be allowed to show it 😆
    Definitely not the next Mr speaker.

    Good start from DC. He’s saddled with Robertson, but good to see buttkiss is bench warming his way to mea culpaville.

    • bad12 4.1
      18 September 2013 at 10:18 am

      Lolz, yeah i just half inched His ‘comedian’ and ‘used car salesman’ line in a comment above, Parker has a ‘quirky’ sense of humor and it will be interesting to see whether His now firm ‘ownership’ of Labour’s Finance Portfolio draws Him out of His shell a bit more…

    • AmaKiwi 4.2
      18 September 2013 at 10:27 am

      Wow! Excellent interview.

      The new Labour message: “We are preparing for government.”

      Key has continually undermined that by portraying both Labour and Greens as irresponsible parliamentary court jesters.

      • Colonial Viper 4.2.1
        18 September 2013 at 11:35 am

        I thought that Parker did pretty well too. And he has a good reputation with the large business sector and with professional firms. A good pick by caucus (on Cunliffe’s recco) IMO.

        • Rose 4.2.1.1
          18 September 2013 at 1:56 pm

          Well done, David Parker. I liked the point he made about people “with connections” getting ahead. Going back to Cunliffe’s goal of people in caucus progressing based on merit, let’s also have a NZ where people can get ahead based on merit not connections.

        • Chooky 4.2.1.2
          18 September 2013 at 4:15 pm

          CV and others +1…David Parker spoke very well!….and scored some points along the way which showed up Key

  5. Ad 5
    18 September 2013 at 10:56 am

    Parker needs to sustain this. He needs to slap on some testosterone patches under that pale exterior.

    I think we’ve been so used to such shit performances from Labour’s front bench that we are grateful if they make whole sentences complete with a verb and a noun.

    Cunliffe will not be pleased with his two mistakes, and nor should we be. We need to do what we did to Shearer: hold him to account and expect him to consistently improved.

    …and that goes for the entire front bench.

    • karol 5.1
      18 September 2013 at 11:01 am

      In his first stand-up with the press on Monday, Cunliffe said he will make mistakes, but he will work to improve on them, etc.

      • Don't worry. Be happy. 5.1.1
        18 September 2013 at 2:59 pm

        Yep David Cunliffe slipped up twice on his first outing as Leader of Labour in the House. Who hasn’t made a mistake like that under far less pressure as well? What I liked was how he handled his mistake…with dignity, poise, intelligence and good humour. Put John Key under pressure and before you can blink, his eyes are narrowed, his teeth are bared and the venom starts.

  6. Francis 6
    18 September 2013 at 11:10 am

    Exactly. All that his mistakes yesterday say is that he’s only human, and all humans make mistakes from time to time. I’m sure everyone here has made that exact same mistake at some stage in their life, and for most of us, it happens regularly. It’s purely cosmetic too, certainly nothing substantial.

    If you actually go into the substance of his performance in the House yesterday, he did quite well. He pressed the Prime Minister for details and remained strong and confident, regardless of his small mistake at the beginning. If you haven’t done so already, I strongly suggest you watch the full question, rather than relying on reporting from the Mainstream Media, who are far too picky over the minor detail while disregarding the actual issues.

    EDIT: That was supposed to be in response to karol, sorry. Much like Cunliffe, I make mistakes too.

  7. Ad 7
    18 September 2013 at 11:13 am

    I will forgive Labour, Cunliffe, and the rest of them of their mistakes if they either win an election, or really start looking like that they can win. And I’m not talking polls, I’m talking person for person, pound for pound, day after day in the House and the media.

    And sure as hell don’t expect the media to mature or become more sophisticated. You get what you get and work it.

  8. captain hook 8
    18 September 2013 at 12:28 pm

    who the hell is Paddy gower and why is he writing such tripe.
    Either he believes in the political process or he just wants to dis anything he doesnt agree with.
    which is it?

    • phillip ure 8.1
      18 September 2013 at 1:14 pm

      gower seems to have lost the realisation that to be a reporter..means to report..things..

      ..to try to draw a picture for those who weren’t present that is as close to what actually unfolded as you can get..

      ..not to seek out angles and gifs to sneer along to..

      ..(and given his unending pimping of/for robertson (followed by jones) as ‘the winner’ during that leaders’ race..

      ..predictions so out of the field of play..they were on the other side of town..

      ..after weeks of them..you’d think gower would be appearing on screen wearing sackcloth and ashes..ducking the head and saying:..’sorry!..for tricking you..for making you think my words/predictions had any worth..’

      ..but nah..!..another day..another angle/gif..eh..?

      ..and his ‘reporting’ of q-time on news last nite..was a new nadir..

      ..in a minefield full of nadirs..

      ..gower need to seek out a dictionary..maybe a shelf of them..

      ..and look up what it means to be a reporter..

      ..and realise that what he did during that leadership race..

      ..and going on the evidence from last nite..continues to do..

      ..didn’t come within a fucken bulls’-roar of that..

      ..with the only question really being..

      ..did he really believe all that crap he (and other corporate-media) were spouting..?

      ..(and if so..whoar..!..eh..?..)

      ..and if not that reason..was he..and all those others..just being ‘trouts’..

      ..playing/pushing the angles their bosses/editors were ordering them too..?

      …(and if so..double-whoar..!..eh..?..)

      ..was/is it ignorance..?..or was/is it corruption..?

      ..clear evidence of bought/owned media-mouthpieces..

      ..nothing more..nothing less..

      ..phillip ure..

  9. gobsmacked 9
    18 September 2013 at 1:29 pm

    Shearer got one thing right at least – in his last interview (Q & A) he admitted that the opposition leader can spend too much time chasing rabbits, the latest thing to pop up and offer a tempting target (as I’ve said before, that’s Mallard-ism … all game, no strategy).

    I just want to tattoo “Focus, focus, f**ing FOCUS” on every Labour MPs head, so they can see it in the bathroom mirror every moring. Cunliffe, Parker and co have the ability to present an alternative gov’t with an alternative set of credible policies, and that’s what they should do – in fact, that’s ALL they should do.

    When the next Aaron Gilmore comes along, don’t say “Mmm, Popcorn!” to the TV cameras. Don’t say “Yes Paddy, no Paddy, you set the agenda Paddy”.

    For the media, all Labour need in the next three months is 1) Win the Christchurch by-election, and 2) have a good conference. (Neither is inevitable). The polls will take care of themselves.

    So far, so good for the new team, but the timetable that matters is a year, not minutes for headline-chasing, tweeting journos. Chorus/caucus trivia is what they do, don’t bite – do NOT bite – just ignore and keep up the work that matters.

    End of sermon! 🙂

    • Crunchtime 9.1
      18 September 2013 at 3:38 pm

      absolutely. If you want to win as a party you must always set the agenda and communicate that agenda. The reporters are there to report the party’s agenda, not set their own. Always remember that. Always.

    • Winston Smith 9.2
      18 September 2013 at 4:15 pm

      I agree with this except for the bit about the by-election…if Labour doesn’t win that I’ll sign up and join (and vote for) the Green party

      But you are right about Labour being side-tracked by trivialities…

    • ghostrider888 9.3
      18 September 2013 at 10:15 pm

      now the benediction before it’s back to my place for toast and ‘tea’

  10. Wayne (a different one) 10
    18 September 2013 at 3:51 pm

    Early days in the new leadership – eventually cracks will appear and blood will flow, that we can all be sure of.

    You can through as much spin around as you like, but when you have 2/3rds of the caucus openly despising David Cunnlife, this ain’t one united caucus and, at some stage the brown stuff is going to hit the fan big time.

    Labour has a proven history of it – whats changed in the last 3 days?

    Answer, nothing, because it’s the same old faces with the same old agendas – just wait and watch.

    • McFlock 10.1
      18 September 2013 at 4:01 pm

      when you have 2/3rds of the caucus openly despising David Cunnlife,

      citation needed…

    • the pigman 10.2
      18 September 2013 at 7:53 pm

      I can spin this as much as I like, and when you have more than 47% of the caucus openly voting for David Cunliffe in preference to Grant Robertson as Labour leader, this is a more united caucus than National and, at some stage, the brown stuff is going to hit the fan big time and spray up all over John Key’s nice blue suit.

      FIFY. What a pity strikethrough is broken.

  11. Winston Smith 11
    18 September 2013 at 4:11 pm

    So first Hipkins gone (voluntarily of course), Robertson demoted (again voluntarily) , Mallard persona non grata (mislaid his phone perhaps?) and Fran Mold seeking new employment

    I got to give Cunliffe credit hes certainly cutting a swathe through labour at the moment which is what he needed to do

    • Pete 11.1
      18 September 2013 at 5:00 pm

      There may be an aspect of pour encourager les autres to this, but Cunliffe has to put his own mark on the senior leadership. That’s why he was elected to the role.

    • karol 11.2
      18 September 2013 at 7:01 pm

      We don’t know yet whether Hipkins will get another spokesperson role. Parker reckoned it was Robertson’s preference not to be deputy – in Parker’s RNZ interview this morning.

      Mallard? Well, roles be allocated on merit. What role has Mallard earned on merit?

      It was interesting to see that on 3 News tonight, 2 Labour performances in the House today made the 6pm news – and neither of the reports by Gower.

      There was a clip from Cunliffe’s General Debate speech, on snapper. And Ardern’s question to Paula Bennett got taken seriously with a report on the news about the stress on social workers due to overload of cases. This in the context of the potential extra work load on social workers as a result of the Vulnerable Children Bill.

      I also noted that Clare Curran knuckled under, and, in the General Debate, picked up on the broadband issue raised by Cunliffe yesterday in Question Time.

      So, I’d say a solid day’s work from Team Labour.

  12. feijoa 12
    18 September 2013 at 6:51 pm

    Yes, exactly, David Cunliffe is there because the members precisely DID NOT want more of the same

  13. big bruv 13
    18 September 2013 at 7:07 pm

    You guys are dreaming.

    Silent T was cleaned up by Key. I thought Shearer was bad in the house but Silent T was even worse.

    Robertson is still in the background plotting…..

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 13.1
      18 September 2013 at 7:15 pm

      Wakey, wakey Big Bruv, it is you that it dreaming

      (I can see you would rather slumber in wild imaginings than realise you particular dream is over though.)

  14. Linz 14
    18 September 2013 at 10:32 pm

    iPredict today:
    There will be a National Prime Minister after the 2014 General Election probability: 51.7% down (3.04%)
    There will be a Labour Prime Minister after the 2014 General Election probability: 49.7% up (2.75%)
    David Cunliffe to be Prime Minister before 2015 – probability: 50.0% – up (6.38%)

  15. charles kinbote 15
    19 September 2013 at 1:59 pm

    repeat after me,
    phillip ure is a brilliant commenter,
    may read like an idiot but he is brilliant,
    he has faith,
    hang him out there with the 800,000,
    watch the ratings slide further

  16. Leak detection 16
    3 October 2013 at 7:13 pm

    Interesting to see … thank you it’s well done 🙂