Big announcement at 1:30 … Shearer stands down as leader

Written By: - Date published: 1:30 pm, August 22nd, 2013 - 336 comments
Categories: david shearer, labour - Tags:

TV 3 and Twitter are reporting that there may be a change in Labour’s leadership …

More details as they come through.

UPDATE

It is confirmed that David Shearer has announced that he will stand down as Labour’s leader after a new leader is selected.  The leadership will now be decided under the Party’s constitution.

[Bunji: stuff are quick to have “contenders” – although does anyone really see Goff coming back?

Rules for vote for Shearer’s replacement will be:

40% caucus

40% members

20% affiliates

So any new leader will take at least a few weeks, and will need the support of the wider party as well as caucus.

Shearer’s Statement

Stuff have a poll for who should be next leader – early days, Jacinda’s ahead.

NZ Herald have Goff & Parker ruling out a tilt.

4pm: both Cunliffe & Robertson have said they will consider running over the next few days, Shane Jones says he’ll have to have a hui to decide whether he’ll put his hand up

FWIW IPredict have Cunliffe 69%, Robertson 30%, Little 5%, Parker (ruled himself out) 5%, Jones 2%, Jacinda 0.3% – yes that adds to way more than 100%…

Little now also saying he’ll take a few days to decide ]

336 comments on “Big announcement at 1:30 … Shearer stands down as leader ”

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  1. Outofbed 1
    22 August 2013 at 1:31 pm

    Yeeessssssssssssssssssssss!

    • Linz 1.1
      22 August 2013 at 3:21 pm

      David Shearer is an honorable man. It takes a special wisdom, courage and humilty to face up to our shortcomings, and he has faced up to his for the greater good. You have to admire him. Maybe we can all learn from what he’s done today.

      • chrissy 1.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 5:37 pm

        Amen to that. He is just what our country needs. Someone who can think beyond his ego. Pleased to hear he will be staying on and hope he and his family get their life back. At least now he won’t have to breathe in the toxic air of planet key. Go well David..

      • Core_Labour_Voter (Tory troll) 1.1.2
        22 August 2013 at 6:48 pm

        I am gutted. Why all of a sudden today? Couldn’t he have waited for few more days? Now all the focus is off the GCSB and on Labour’s leadership struggle….damn….

        • blue leopard 1.1.2.1
          23 August 2013 at 10:30 am

          @Core_Labour_Voter,

          Mr Shearer standing down is good news, it allows for hope that Labour will get its act together, yet I agree with your comment; what has occurred with this Spy Bull is extremely serious and not the only case of extreme lack of respect for democratic principles being displayed by this government (and in the west in general) .

          I am changing my label in response to this concern, in the hope that people don’t forget to ensure the strongly antidemocratic trend we are witnessing is reversed.

          [lprent: And I’m changing it back – that is too damn long. ]

          • blue leopard 1.1.2.1.1
            23 August 2013 at 12:12 pm

            @ lprent
            lol, it was rather long, thanks for the explanation, I’ll have to think of something shorter.

            [this is in moderation because I didn’t change the name back, sorry lprent. I have edited it and changed the name back now.]

          • blue beGone Craven SpyBull leopard 1.1.2.1.2
            23 August 2013 at 12:27 pm

            it was a bit long, sorry lprent
            …testing….is this better?

            • lprent 1.1.2.1.2.1
              23 August 2013 at 1:17 pm

              Not particularly. Break it up into words so the word wrap works. Then the HTML handles it correctly in tight spaces.

      • Matthew Whitehead 1.1.3
        22 August 2013 at 9:07 pm

        He may be honourable, but he’s slow. This needed to happen several months ago.

  2. One Anonymous Knucklehead 2
    22 August 2013 at 1:35 pm

    Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day; they have been crying this wolf for ages.

    • McFlock 2.1
      22 August 2013 at 1:41 pm

      yep.

      I’ll be intrigued to see what happens, though – I note the polling boost in Aus when Rudd took over seems to have dwindled. I’d expect a similar rollercoaster here obscuring the longer-term trend against national, so there’ll still be much gnashing of teeth over polls to come 🙂

      Also we’ll get to see if Cunliffe has as much support amongst the membership as his advocates here suggest. popcorn time…

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 2.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 1:49 pm

        Yep 🙂

      • yeshe 2.1.2
        22 August 2013 at 3:41 pm

        but the oz situation was in govt, not opposition .. big difference I think …

      • Murray Olsen 2.1.3
        23 August 2013 at 12:09 am

        The big difference is that Rudd is nowhere near as competent as Gillard and has been leaping to the right ever since he stabbed her in the back. A comparison would be possible if Cunliffe came out in support of cuts to benefits and the strengthening of the GCSB Act, along with faster sell off of our assets. I don’t expect him to do this.

    • Colonial Viper 2.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:53 pm

      Even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day; they have been crying this wolf for ages.

      Your first metaphor is usually used when people who often make wrong judgements finally get one right. But Shearer wasn’t up for the job and never was. Key’s interview with Campbell showed what a bloodbath the TV debates with Shearer would have been

      Your second metaphor is usually used when false warnings of trouble ahead lull others into a false sense of security. Well, the warnings were real, the trouble ahead was real, and the only people with a false sense of security were the Shearer Bearers.

      • You_Fool 2.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 3:54 pm

        I get the feeling the comment by OAK was about how the media has been bashing the whole “leadership battle” in labour thing for awhile now…

  3. Outofbed 3
    22 August 2013 at 1:37 pm

    He has Gone

  4. r0b 4
    22 August 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Well that was – sudden!

    Thank you David Shearer for giving it your best shot, and for going on your own terms.

    Good luck to the next leader…

    • yeshe 4.1
      22 August 2013 at 1:44 pm

      Thank you for being the decent man we know you are; thank you.

      • Jim Nald 4.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:54 pm

        This announcement brings me back to the Labour membership and to commenting on The Standard.

        I would hope that those at the top of the Labour party and parliamentary hierarchy will respect and honour the democratic and representative processes and outcomes in good faith and with integrity, working with and for the party membership.

        A window of opportunity has opened (thanks David Shearer) in reviving and energising the party membership and wider public. I trust all involved with the party will wisely and even-handedly use this opportunity to awaken NZ society.for a fair and progressive future.

    • bad12 4.2
      22 August 2013 at 1:47 pm

      i suspect that being narked on by Slippery the Prime Minister over the ‘secret meeting’ was the one that broke the camels back,

      Perhaps Dave didn’t bother to tell the Caucus about the meeting either???…

      • james 4.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:12 pm

        He wasnt narked on – he asked the question. Key had to answer.

        • Mary 4.2.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 2:25 pm

          And probably answered with a lie. Who would you believe?

        • Draco T Bastard 4.2.1.2
          22 August 2013 at 3:00 pm

          Actually, he asked a different question. Specifically he asked if National had approached any other parties. He didn’t ask if National had been approached by other parties which is the question that Key answered.

          • alwyn 4.2.1.2.1
            22 August 2013 at 3:20 pm

            Shearer’s question was “Did he (key) or anyone in his office ever contact the Labour Party to obtain broader support for the bill”. Key gave Shearer a chance to not continue but Shearer was to stupid to do so and repeated the question.
            Key, under pain of being referred to the Privileges Committee for misleading the house said.
            “… I asked Mr Shearer whether he would like to come to my office to have a discussion …”
            He answered exactly the question that was asked.
            See the Parliament website with questions for oral answer 20/07/13 Q3.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.2.1.2.1.1
              22 August 2013 at 3:27 pm

              If he omitted to mention that he was responding to a request for said meeting (like the widely publicised Labour statements that they were seeking bipartisan agreement, say), then can you see how the mendacious wretch would be lying?

              • alwyn …
                22 August 2013 at 3:45 pm

                Rubbish. He was asked if he had invited discussions and he said yes and identified the occasion..
                Whatever anyone in the Labour Party may, or may not, have been saying doesn’t make his statement a lie.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  22 August 2013 at 6:03 pm

                  Yeah, you’re probably right: Shearer was wrong to ask the question: even if just before Key had invited him to his office Shearer had said “let’s meet right now” Key was always going to score a point off it.

                  • SHG (not Colonial Viper) …
                    22 August 2013 at 6:57 pm

                    It was a question in Parliament. Key had to answer. He even tried to give Shearer an exit, but Shearer kept on asking.

            • 4077th 4.2.1.2.1.2
              22 August 2013 at 3:58 pm

              Correct!

            • Rich the other 4.2.1.2.1.3
              22 August 2013 at 6:36 pm

              Spot on alwyn,
              the remaining question is who actually set Shearer up.

              Questions in question time are planned and they try to have purpose so whoever advised Shearer to ask this question set him up , Key was obliged to answer truthfully and had no choice but to expose Shearer .

              Key tried to let Shearer off the hook .

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 4.3
      22 August 2013 at 1:50 pm

      +1

    • Huginn 4.4
      22 August 2013 at 2:12 pm

      Thank you, David Shearer

      And yes, good luck to the next leader

    • Ron 4.5
      22 August 2013 at 3:30 pm

      ‘Leader’
      maybe we should have co-leaders works well for a certain other party

  5. clashman 5
    22 August 2013 at 1:40 pm

    Thank you David.

  6. Rob 6
    22 August 2013 at 1:42 pm

    Yep, the biggest turnstile in NZ politics rotates again.

  7. TheContrarian 7
    22 August 2013 at 1:42 pm

    It was bound to happen sooner or later. So…Robertson then?

    • bad12 7.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:48 pm

      Robertson???, maybe with Little as the other half of His ticket, but, at a guess the membership 40% will mostly be voting for Cunliffe so i would expect Him to win in a close contest…

      • tinfoilhat 7.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 3:20 pm

        What ? All of the Labour members will vote Cunliffe ?

        Is it all or nothing for the members ? how does the vote work ?

        • Bunji 7.1.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 4:16 pm

          40 / 40 / 20 is weighting.
          So in 2 horse race if members are 60:40 to Candidate A and caucus is 60:40 to candidate B, then union vote will be decider (unless unions are 50:50…).

          To your other question – not sure how union vote works – whether each union casts all its votes en-bloc or it’s split to members – ask your delegate…

  8. bad12 8
    22 August 2013 at 1:43 pm

    Gone, Gone Gone, is everybody now happy???, a word of praise to David Shearer for doing the ‘right’ thing…

    • McFlock 8.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:07 pm

      is everybody now happy???
      yeah, right 🙂

      • bad12 8.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:17 pm

        LOLZ, if i wasn’t a ‘recovered’ alcoholic i would crack a can, time for a celebratory cup of tea lolz,

        Now, thank the various deity the negativity can stop and we all can put our combined energy into what really matters, the ousting of this Abysmal pile of Tory slime and the installation of a Labour/Green Government in November 2014,

        Ably supported by 2 or 3 Mana Party MP’s to boot…

  9. Belladonna 9
    22 August 2013 at 1:44 pm

    Robertson would be no better than Shearer, he just doesnt have enough support. If it is not David Cunliffe then I will give up on Labour permanently.

    • Hami Shearlie 9.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:05 pm

      Me too, Belladonna!

    • Tim 9.3
      22 August 2013 at 2:35 pm

      and me and a cast of about 15 I know of

    • Rhinocrates 9.4
      22 August 2013 at 3:02 pm

      Robertson? Oh Cthulhu, Labour, always ready to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at the last minute, could quite possibly be stupid enough to select that waste of skin.

      • Tim 9.4.1
        22 August 2013 at 3:24 pm

        Someone mentioned that there was some sort of Oriental Bay ‘wing’ of Labour (above) – no doubt there is.
        Robertson could play Jake or Josh the fatman in that little melodrama.
        Christ! I’d even ask Chris Finalyson if he’d front in jackboots with a copy of ‘Hitlers Pope’ tucked under his arm. And I’d wish them all the best as they witnessed a pathetic Carter Fountain ejaculate.

        No… I’ll wait till I hear who it is that will lead Labour (with a ‘u’).
        Given her faults, one can understand why Helen Clarke fucked off – even if she did lose her mojo in the third term.

      • Hami Shearlie 9.4.2
        22 August 2013 at 5:01 pm

        Unfortunately, they could and did last time – but then, only the Caucus got to vote last time. The wider membership would never be that stupid, surely? After all, Robertson isn’t even very popular in his own electorate, party vote Labour came THIRD down there!

    • Ron 9.5
      22 August 2013 at 3:33 pm

      And whom for deputy?

    • paul andersen 9.6
      22 August 2013 at 4:35 pm

      +1

  10. Saarbo 10
    22 August 2013 at 1:45 pm

    ok, not surprised… I’m getting my cheque ready to re-join Labour.

    Will be interesting to see what happens in the next few days.

    • Saarbo 10.1
      22 August 2013 at 1:59 pm

      Everyone must be trying to re-join Labour like me, the labour website has gone down…will re join as soon as it comes back up.

      My vote: David Cunliffe.

      Its time to get serious and take it to these bull shitting, born to rule, look after the wealthy, screw the poor, environment destroying bastards.

      • Hami Shearlie 10.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:06 pm

        Agreed!

      • Rhinocrates 10.1.2
        22 August 2013 at 3:03 pm

        I might even venture a “Woo hoo!” to that.

      • weka 10.1.3
        22 August 2013 at 3:07 pm

        I doubt that members that join today will get to vote on the new leader.

      • Red Rosa 10.1.4
        22 August 2013 at 3:34 pm

        +1

      • chrissy 10.1.5
        22 August 2013 at 5:59 pm

        Much as I hate to say it I think Cunliffe is the only one with enough mongrel and a matching ego to mix it with key. Will still be interesting to see who gets most mileage from MSM. You have to get media coverage to get the attention of the public. Could be a bit of a conundrum for the Herald! Also, I bet key might lose a little bit of sleep over this one. He would have been banking on ego over integrity. Shearer has proved the toxic waste wrong!

      • Jenny 10.1.6
        22 August 2013 at 10:56 pm

        Right on!

      • Chooky 10.1.7
        25 August 2013 at 8:32 am

        +100( Sarbo 10.1) and everyone else

        …I was away from my computer for a few days but was elated to hear the news

        Lets hope Cunliffe is the new leader!!!….anyone else is a mistake!!!

    • Ron 10.2
      22 August 2013 at 3:35 pm

      Well you wont get to participate in leadership election if you have left it this late to join

  11. Outofbed 11
    22 August 2013 at 1:45 pm

    Thank you David ? “what the fuck” he was completely the wrong person, everyone knew that apart from about 15 people on the left and the whole of the right

    • r0b 11.1
      22 August 2013 at 1:46 pm

      Do any of us know if we could be “the right person” for such a job oob – until we try it? Why the petty spite?

      • Outofbed 11.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:00 pm

        It not petty spite. Goff then Shearer WTF National running riot, its not a game.
        We have to get it right We have to put an end to this sociopath Key.
        Choosing the leader of the opposition is very important. Funny that

        • r0b 11.1.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 2:07 pm

          Abusing people who were thanking DS for his service isn’t petty spite then? Ok. Maybe you want to have a think about how you put across your views oob.

          • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1.1
            22 August 2013 at 2:40 pm

            I think that DS should be thanked for his public service. It’s a tough place to be, for anyone.

            I also think that putting in as Leader an MP who had never ever held a portfolio, had spent many years of his working life outside of NZ, and who had barely even done 3 years service as a backbencher was an obvious misjudgement.

            • saarbo 11.1.1.1.1.1
              22 August 2013 at 2:57 pm

              Yes, what you take from that comment is that the same people who were responsible for implementing Shearer should stand aside now and let others make the call. They were wrong in making Shearer leader, he was an abysmal leader. This was an inevitable outcome, glad it has happened now and not post 2014 election. It is still not to late to take it to this hopeless government.

            • Draco T Bastard 11.1.1.1.1.2
              22 August 2013 at 3:27 pm

              No, I don’t think his lack of experience was the problem, the problem was that he was too experienced from his work at the UN and doesn’t realise that it’s the system that needs changing.

            • Hami Shearlie 11.1.1.1.1.3
              22 August 2013 at 5:04 pm

              The people who pushed David Shearer to put his name forward for the leadership last time are far more to blame than Shearer himself methinks!

          • Outofbed 11.1.1.1.2
            22 August 2013 at 2:45 pm

            Not abuse at all, Incredulity, David Shearer by all accounts a nice bloke but in what universe did he think that he was the right person for the job ? All he has done is setback the cause of getting rid of Key. So the only thank you that is needed is to say thanks for ‘finally’ realising what we all knew 18 months ago.
            Now Grant Robertson? You are also a “nice” bloke. But the Labour party came third in Wellington Central in 2011 in the party vote. You are also not the right person.

            • alwyn 11.1.1.1.2.1
              22 August 2013 at 3:28 pm

              Your party coming third in an electorate that you win could actually be a recommendation for the job. Anyone running ahead of their own parties vote in their electorate could be said to be showing that they are popular with the public.
              I live in the electorate and he is basically invisible. He doesn’t seem to attend anything much in the way of public events. I don’t think much of him personally and can’t really see him as a viable leader for Labour.
              I am of course biased, not personally being a great fan of any of the current Labour MPs and not having voted Labour since 2002

            • Hami Shearlie 11.1.1.1.2.2
              22 August 2013 at 5:06 pm

              Plus the fact that Robertson hasn’t been in Parliament that much longer than Shearer! And I just don’t think NZ is ready for a gay Labour Leader let alone a Prime Minister. That’s just how it is, IMHO.

              • SHG (not Colonial Viper) …
                22 August 2013 at 7:25 pm

                Robertson’s pitiful performance in the House when Heather Roy sidestepped everyone on the VSM bill will hang around his neck for years. He was dithering about like someone doing a Frank Spencer impersonation. His best attempt at delaying a piece of procedural business was to complain “um, I’m a bit new at this, see I haven’t been in Parliament long and I don’t know how these things work, ooh Betty Parliament is so hard”.

                LEADERSHIP MATERIAL RIGHT THERE

                • alwyn …
                  22 August 2013 at 8:27 pm

                  Oh dear, I had forgotten that one.
                  How to prevent any other private members bill being discussed for most of the year, and screw the Royal Society of New Zealand and then still get run over.
                  He did look silly while he wandered round the house trying to find a copy of standing orders didn’t he.

        • Ad 11.1.1.2
          22 August 2013 at 2:11 pm

          Shearer had the opportunity this week to use the huge momentum built by ordinary citizens on 2 otherwise obscure issues and turn it into Labour’s renewal going into the Meridian float and Labour conference. This hasn’t happened in five years. It was the same moment as Clarks smacking reform.

          Instead, Shearer and cronies Hipkins and Goff any King and Cosgrove and of course Fran Mold have utterly fucked that up.

          Shearer was so shit he made a fuckup of a fuckup.

          He and ABC have been a catastrophic waste.

      • Tracey 11.1.2
        22 August 2013 at 2:50 pm

        +1 r0b

        • weka 11.1.2.1
          22 August 2013 at 3:10 pm

          +2.

          I’m grateful to Shearer for doing the right thing and stepping down at last. No need to shit on him or the people thanking him.

      • oftenpuzzled 11.1.3
        22 August 2013 at 5:27 pm

        +1

  12. Brett Dale 12
    22 August 2013 at 1:46 pm

    So Goff and Jones are seen laughing and patting each other on the back as they leave, and Labour moves to the far far left. The new leader is going to be a hard line unionist.

    Another term for the National government coming up.

    • bad12 12.1
      22 August 2013 at 1:51 pm

      Only in your wet-dreams boyo…

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 12.2
      22 August 2013 at 1:53 pm

      Looking forward to time proving you wrong 😆

      • McFlock 12.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:11 pm

        wrong about national, hopefully not the move to the left 🙂

        • Colonial Viper 12.2.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 3:10 pm

          The person who is Leader isn’t that important to the performance of the overall party, you know that McFlock.

          • weka 12.2.1.1.1
            22 August 2013 at 3:13 pm

            You reckon if Cunliffe becomes leader that it won’t affect the performance of the overall party?

            • Jenny 12.2.1.1.1.1
              22 August 2013 at 3:31 pm

              My take, is that if Cunliffe did become leader it would energise the grass roots, to fight for a Labour Government like nothing else.

              People talk of the fabled Labour Party electoral machine. Well it has been operating on three cylinders. The members who do the donkey work have not had their heart in it.

              Give them the leader they want. Another cabinet appointee like Roberson or Little will be a slow death.

              • alwyn …
                22 August 2013 at 3:52 pm

                Can anyone tell me who, exactly is in this “fabled Labour Party electoral machine”?
                My impression was that it was largely Union organised. I don’t know personally but if that was the case wouldn’t it be likely that Little becoming leader, from his background in the biggest (?) union affiliated to the party would be likely to energise the workers more than someone who boasts of having spent some time at Harvard and having worked for a merchant bank?

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                  22 August 2013 at 6:06 pm

                  “Impression”? Followed by “I don’t know”?

                  That’s a solid foundation you have there 😆

                  • alwyn …
                    22 August 2013 at 8:22 pm

                    Yes you are right.
                    That is why the first sentence was a question.
                    And then I gave an hypothesis, based largely on what I had read from Mike Williams.
                    Then I said that “if that is the case”.
                    I’d still like to know from a knowledgeable person the answer regarding the electoral machine.
                    Come on. Educate the commoners with your inside knowledge.

              • Hami Shearlie …
                22 August 2013 at 5:11 pm

                I know this for a fact. A relative of mine is a very long time party member and someone who has worked very hard for their own and neighbouring electorates for several decades. She mentioned that she might vote GREEN next time – that’s how disheartened the very loyal members are feeling – UP TILL NOW that is!!

            • McFlock 12.2.1.1.1.2
              22 August 2013 at 3:46 pm

              I think there are other more important things that affect support for a party than the leader, yes.
              A sustained 18 month public campaign (by self-professed members) against most of the party caucus, in concert with a similar campaign by political editors who smell blood, for example.

              I reckon that having the most petulant supporters is as much a leadership quality of cunliffe as any “charisma” he might have.

              I reckon that whomever wins the leadership will face:
              continued predictions of leadership demise from the cetacean;
              ongoing speculation about leadership stability from the media, more frantic the more likely it looks like national might lose;
              incessant micro-criticism by lefties of any policies released by labour between now and the election;
              but slightly less in the realm of shirt-tearing internet try-hards who leave flecks of froth on the keyboard when they type about disliked caucus members getting put to the woodchipper.

              So my pick post-change is:
              a bit of a polling boost for the new leader, then back down again, but hopefully with less of the fuck-useless whinging little internet warriors (and worriers) getting in the way of solid progress against national before the campaign proper.

              • Colonial Viper …
                22 August 2013 at 3:53 pm

                Good explaining

                • McFlock …
                  22 August 2013 at 3:59 pm

                  Of course, it’ll be business as usual if your golden boy doesn’t win the leadership contest.

                  • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                    22 August 2013 at 6:13 pm

                    We’ll see. The new rules will help whoever wins if you ask me.

                    But really, debate is a bad thing because of what the Right makes of it? When did they get to set a benchmark of anything other than incompetence and hubris?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      22 August 2013 at 6:19 pm

                      Fair point. If you’re keeping the editors of the NZ Herald and NBR happy, you’re probably doing something wrong, Labour.

                    • McFlock …
                      22 August 2013 at 6:41 pm

                      Ah, by referring to the “debates” here are we now using the word “debate” as a euphemism for outright abuse, apocalyptic forebodings, making shit up, and general weeping and tearing of clothes?

                      Yes, we should avoid doing that because it serves no purpose other than to give ammunition to tory politicians and jonolists.

                      If, on the other hand, you meant:
                      “A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward”,

                      then I would say:

                      “no, but I fail to see the relevance of the term to some of the more berserk utterances made by some alleged labour party supporters in this forum”.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                      22 August 2013 at 7:22 pm

                      McFlock, well ok, but if the problem is the stuff Jenny (or any individual commenter) says that Jono finds compelling, then the problem isn’t on the left.

                    • McFlock …
                      23 August 2013 at 11:40 am

                      Yes, it is. Just as it was Shearer’s fault whenever he made a gaff that gave fodder to garner.

                      If we make shit up, blow shit out of proportion, and so on, then yes it is our fault. Fair criticism is fair criticism, but quite a few supposed leftists have a habit of going overboard, imo.

            • Colonial Viper 12.2.1.1.1.3
              22 August 2013 at 9:59 pm

              You reckon if Cunliffe becomes leader that it won’t affect the performance of the overall party?

              It is damn important of course, just taking the piss out of McFlock’s last year and a half of saying its not about Shearer, its about the policies

    • felix 12.3
      22 August 2013 at 6:00 pm

      “So Goff and Jones are seen laughing and patting each other on the back as they leave, and Labour moves to the far far left. The new leader is going to be a hard line unionist.”

      lolwut? Goff and Jones represent the far left now?

      The words you type are just random symbols to you really, aren’t they Brett?

      • Brett Dale 12.3.1
        22 August 2013 at 6:29 pm

        Felix:

        No, not Goff and Jones, although they were seen laughing their butts off today. The new leader though will be a hard line Union guy, possibly Little.

        • felix 12.3.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 10:04 pm

          That’d be a scandal, wouldn’t it? Imagine, the LABOUR party led by a UNIONIST!!

          Next you’ll tell me National is going to be led by a multi-millionaire banker.

  13. The Al1en 13
    22 August 2013 at 1:46 pm

    And he only needed a few more months to make a go of it, shame that.

    Cunliffe for the win, or caucus might as well just state they’ve no intention of winning back government, just taking the pensions ’til retirement.

    Mallard, get f*cked 😉

    • McFlock 13.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:19 pm

      it’s not up to caucus alone

      • The Al1en 13.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:33 pm

        “it’s not up to caucus alone”

        I know that, just saying at least 22 of them got it very wrong last time.
        Best make sure a new membership entitles me to a vote before I part with the ‘donation’, ’cause these mp people don’t seem to be able to be trusted with their 40%

        Anyhow, back to self imposed exile.

        Viva (R)evolution 😉

  14. Sanctuary 14
    22 August 2013 at 1:51 pm

    Doesn’t that trigger the new voting rules? I foresee a Cunliffe/Little leadership. The only worry for that team will be if the revanchist rogernomes in the old guard pack a hissy fit and split away from the party.

    • Ant 14.1
      22 August 2013 at 4:19 pm

      With luck, I’m really hoping against an insipid Robertson/Arden combo

      • Hami Shearlie 14.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 5:14 pm

        Oh God – That would spell the end, wouldn’t it? Arden is weak as water, and Robertson is very famous and loved in his own mind!

  15. Sable 15
    22 August 2013 at 1:54 pm

    I’m ambivalent. Shearer isn’t Labours real problem, Labour is Labours problem. There move to the right of the political spectrum is the reason their support base is eroding. They have lost touch with the working class and the middle class have no idea what they actually stand for.

    Oh well, lets see which cab is next off the rank. Cunliffe looks likely, he’s clever but like Goff his attitude will no doubt be his undoing….

    • geoff 15.1
      22 August 2013 at 7:12 pm

      Cunliffe is an unknown quantity as a leader but at least the membership will give him a chance and that’s what is needed if there is any chance of Labour winning in 2014.
      It also would seem he might be the only one to foot it with Key.

  16. Tiger Mountain 16
    22 August 2013 at 1:55 pm

    Well the new LP rules are getting an early run. Voting is along the lines of…
    • 40% Caucus
    • 40% membership at large
    • 20% affiliated unions

    Well done DS for going before conference and apparently under your own steam and counsel.
    Good luck DC, keep the beard for the rugged look, and put that slippery refugee from Hawaii, our excuse for a Prime Minister, in his place.

    • tinfoilhat 16.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:35 pm

      As a Union member do I get a vote …. not sure how it works in practice ?

      • Colonial Viper 16.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 3:11 pm

        Delegates chosen from the membership of affiliated unions like the EPMU will get a vote.

        • tinfoilhat 16.1.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 3:25 pm

          So if I understand you correctly I personally don’t get and say…….That’s pretty fucked up ?

          • weka 16.1.1.1.1
            22 August 2013 at 3:29 pm

            You would get a vote if you were a Labour Party member. As a union member, you get a voice through your union processess.

          • Draco T Bastard 16.1.1.1.2
            22 August 2013 at 3:36 pm

            If you’re in an affiliated union you’d get a vote at the union. The union delegate would then go and vote on the unions behalf.

    • Jenny 16.2
      22 August 2013 at 3:43 pm

      The affiliated unions obviously will be the ones to sway the vote. My bet is that they will back the Caucus choice. And we all know that the caucus do not want Cunliffe.

      The main driver in the CTU is the EPMU it also has a reputation in the union movement for conservatism.

      Andrew Little was their past secretary.

      It is also the union that represents coal miners and oil rig workers.

      Cunliffe has spoken out against climate change.

      So:

      Caucus 40% Little

      Affiliated unions 20% Little

      Membership 40% Cunliffe

      The membership still won’t get their choice.

      And the country and the world will be the poorer for it.

      I also fear that Little has not got what it takes to get the party and the country behind him. (Though I could be wrong, and I hope I am)

      • yeshe 16.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 3:57 pm

        I heard Andrew Little speaking in the house the other night .. maybe he was just tired, but he did lack any clarity and appeared to have gone through a charisma by-pass. In fact, he was so boring I turned it off.

      • Hami Shearlie 16.2.2
        22 August 2013 at 5:17 pm

        Little may be clever, but he is relatively new to Parliament, and he’s dour and unsmiling – Not got the easy way with people, so deadly in an election, meeting people, kissing babies, can’t see that going well – PLUS, he wasn’t even able to win an electorate seat, that would be a very bad look!

        • Jenny 16.2.2.1
          22 August 2013 at 11:00 pm

          This is the nub of the problem Cunliffe could lead but he won’t be allowed too.

          Vested interest will see to that.

  17. Brett Dale 17
    22 August 2013 at 1:58 pm

    Labour has a choice to make, they will either do the right thing, or be told what to do by the greens. Time will tell.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 17.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:03 pm

      Or some other third thing that your witless attempt to create a false dichotomy can’t encompass. Yep, that seems more likely.

    • grumpy 17.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:13 pm

      Labour need to get votes back from the Greens (from the left) and at the same time from National (from the centre). Good luck with that!
      Cunliffe might be the one.

      • weka 17.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 3:18 pm

        “Labour need to get votes back from the Greens (from the left) and at the same time from National (from the centre). Good luck with that!”

        Well the GP is taking votes from both Labour and NACT.

        Labour could pick up some of its traditional votes from the people that didn’t bother voting last time.

    • Sable 17.3
      22 August 2013 at 2:18 pm

      Or they could adopt Nationals attitude and let the US tell them what to do next….Which do you prefer Brett???

  18. One Anonymous Knucklehead 18
    22 August 2013 at 1:58 pm

    A new leader chosen by the new rules could be the best thing that’s happened to the Labour Party since Clark and Cullen took the reins.

  19. Pete 19
    22 August 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Thank you David. We still need your service when Labour takes the Treasury benches, though.

  20. Colonial Viper 20
    22 August 2013 at 2:00 pm

    Shane Jones for LEADER!!! You heard it HERE first!!!

  21. Not a PS Staffer 21
    22 August 2013 at 2:01 pm

    Thank you David Shearere for putting the Party ahead of your personal ambition.

    I hope you find a role within the Labour movement where you can continue to use your undoubted talents.

    Enjoy a few glasses, a rest and then get back up on the horse.

  22. leftbutnotdeluded 22
    22 August 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Judging from labour’s performance over the last 24 months I expect the next few weeks culminating in a vote on a new leadership to be a mixture of high farce, skullduggery and general pythonesque behaviour.

    Honestly what a fucking sideshow just as there was some pressure being applied to Key and that Nats….. couldn’t Shearer have just said ….’ look Labour is fucked, we’re a bunch of career troughers and numpties, we’re closing the place down and we suggest that you put all of your support behind the Greens and Mana.’

    • burt 22.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:05 pm

      ’ look Labour is fucked, we’re a bunch of career troughers and numpties

      I have never seen such a true statement on the standard as this. Exactly… career troughers and self serving leaches.

      • Tracey 22.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:53 pm

        same can be said of national so we are fucked every which way…

        has English ever worked anywhere that didnt pay him through the public purse…

        • Delia 22.1.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 4:54 pm

          Says he is a farmer, but I have never seen him down on the farm. Has anyone? Actually most of them are soft handed desk types and it is half the problem.

          • Colonial Viper 22.1.1.1.1
            22 August 2013 at 5:13 pm

            Victoria uni then Treasury then MP.

            Last time our good man worked on a farm, if ever, would have been as a teenager.

        • bad12 22.1.1.2
          22 August 2013 at 5:02 pm

          No, straight from Otago University courtesy of the taxpayers free education, then to the Treasury where it took them years to have him to come to grips with the phrase ”Ug business good society an inefficient drag”

          From Treasury to the golden trough where nothing is too good for Bill from Dipton including the double dipping into the MP’s housing allowance…

    • Sable 22.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:24 pm

      Leftbutnotdeluded: I was thinking the same thing myself. Shearer looked to actually have the upper hand but rather than squeeze Keys he walks away-WTF!!!

      Sorry Labour but you have seriously lost the plot. As I have said and will say again if this country has a future its with the newer parties not Labour or National.

  23. Freekpower 23
    22 August 2013 at 2:02 pm

    Does anyone know if you are allowed to join two NZ political parties at the same time. I’m currently a member of Mana but if Cunliffe comes back………

    • Bunji 23.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:27 pm

      Different parties have different rules – but Labour has a rule that you can’t be a member of another party.

      • Freekpower 23.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 8:56 am

        Thanks, looks like I might have a bit of an interesting decision on my hands. Of course if Cunliffe is not given the leadership I might just give up on politics altogether (well at least the Labour party)

    • Chris 23.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:29 pm

      As I understand it it depends on the party – for example I think National and Labour allow you to be a member of 2 parties whereas Act don’t.

      • Freekpower 23.2.1
        23 August 2013 at 2:57 pm

        I sent an email through the Labour Party website and recieved the following responce

        “You would need to resign your membership of the Mana Party before you could
        join Labour.”

  24. karol 24
    22 August 2013 at 2:03 pm

    Thanks, David Shearer for doing the right thing. Though I see Stuff is reporting that Shearer didn’t think he had the support of his caucus.

    Over to the Labour membership. I assume the membership will get a say in who is selected as the new leader? Look forward to seeing the candidates, what they have to offer, and how they are assessed by the LP members.

    Let democracy begin!

  25. Brett Dale 25
    22 August 2013 at 2:03 pm

    Cameron Slater was the only person who predicted this, this morning.

    [lprent: And on how many previous mornings and days? I can think of at least 4 or 5 previous times that he has “predicted” it.

    It isn’t hard to be retrospectively correct if you keep predicting a predictable event.

    Of course he also predicted that he’d make The Truth flourish (he destroyed it), that this site would disappear (in a few days we will have been here 6 years), and that climate change was a hoax (because he is stupid to understand the science). His track record is to usually be wrong. But since he issues predictions at a prodigious rate, eventually even a dumbarse will get one on the nose. It’s statistics…

    In the meantime, stop astroturfing our site. ]

  26. fender 26
    22 August 2013 at 2:05 pm

    Well done, good move that has improved my opinion of the man. Now it’s time to remember that an inexperienced choice was an error and shouldn’t be repeated. I’d very much like to see Cunliffe given a shot PLEASE.

  27. srylands 27
    22 August 2013 at 2:08 pm

    I think Shane Jones will be the surprise in the contest. He will appeal to a large slice of traditional Labour voters who have defected. Of course he won’t appeal to the Oriental Bay left.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 27.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:10 pm

      Wormtongue, you give such wise and sincere counsel, and still no-one cares.

      • Murray Olsen 27.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 2:21 pm

        It doesn’t surprise me that Shane Jones is the ACT choice. They can intimately identify with sitting in a motel room with porn DVDs for company.

      • weka 27.1.2
        22 August 2013 at 3:23 pm

        You’d think on such an important issue they’d send better astroturfers than srylands and Brett.

    • bad12 27.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:35 pm

      SSLands, more deluded BS from you, Shane Jones is a wanker in at least one sense of the word and possibly both, this would seem to be what the two of you have in common,

      i expect that Jones will be removed from the Front Bench in the reshuffle after the Leadership is decided, His contribution from that position has been virtually zero,

      i would suggest at this early stage that the leadership vote will be a tight race IF as i expect it will be a contest of a Robertson/Little ticket V a Cunliffe/??? ticket,

      Of course Labour might just see the sense and simply go to the Party with a Cunliffe, Roberston, Little, Adhern front four proposition…

    • Tracey 27.3
      22 August 2013 at 2:55 pm

      you picking up Hooten’s mantle of coming and suggesting the person the NACTs want the most??

      I LOVE when NACT supporters assume they know what other party’s supporters want.

    • freedom 27.4
      22 August 2013 at 2:56 pm

      “I think ”

      you think ?
      well srylands, that is yet to be witnessed 🙂 😎 🙂

  28. Pete 28
    22 August 2013 at 2:09 pm

    Does anyone know how the leadership vote will be conducted? A STV style of vote may draw more members behind whoever the eventual leader is.

  29. Poem 29
    22 August 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Wow !! that is a selfless act coming from David Shearer, he obviously does have the best interests of the Labour party at heart. Thank you David Shearer for at least trying. New Zealand is sure on one hell of a roller coaster ride at the moment.

    • Sable 29.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:29 pm

      Shearer is no doubt a good man but sadly he’s leading a party that does not have any real sense of direction…..

    • Rosie 29.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:41 pm

      Agree Poem. I thought his resignation statement was well worded. He came right in the end and did the right thing. I thought I’d be more excited when this time finally came, and I dare say I will have a little bubbly tonight, but it was inevitable. Now we can begin to get ourselves back on course, (I’m assuming, depending on who becomes leader).

      Key will be pissed off. Good.

  30. Murray Olsen 30
    22 August 2013 at 2:19 pm

    If they don’t choose Cunliffe they’re saying they want a NAct government. FFS, do the right thing, which includes clearing out the troughing remnants of Rogernomics.

    • Tracey 30.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:48 pm

      not Robertson?

    • travellerev 30.2
      22 August 2013 at 4:19 pm

      Never thought I’d agree with you but there you have it. Cunliffe is the only real Kiwi politician who can pull this one of against all the foreign Kiwi’s such as Key, Shearer and Russell. If anything this is not about left or right but about Kiwi versus foreign control!

  31. Coronial Typer 31
    22 August 2013 at 2:27 pm

    So who here is ready to unify Labour again?
    I am.

    The Membership and the Activists here must get the Labour Party leadership they want, pull away the old guard, and get ready to form a Labour-Green coalition government for New Zealand.

    Who is with me on that?

    • Sable 31.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:31 pm

      Sounds better than National/ACT/Dunne but Labour really needs to get its act together for this to happen.

    • TEA 31.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:34 pm

      The Greens are welcome to the gaggle of labour gays, then labour will move forward.

    • Not a PS Staffer 31.3
      22 August 2013 at 3:51 pm

      YES. UNITE

      A united Labour Party is a strong Labour Party. The workers and families of NZ deserve a strong Labour Party.

      In the past 30 years the Labour Caucus has twice been hi-jacked by factions that have ignored the membership and the people the membership represent.

      This is the time for the membership to finally take control of the Party.

      The New Leader will be the leader with Membership support, with proven support at a ballot box and with the ability to inspire the people of New Zealand.

  32. Takere 32
    22 August 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Oh dear …looks like Labours gunna be the 3rd biggest party in NZ ….. Another own goal by Labour ….. they go up in the polls and sack the leader?Go the Greens!

  33. finbar 33
    22 August 2013 at 2:30 pm

    From week two it was obvious that Shearer was the wrong choice,blame the old school journey cabinet for that one.Cunliffe, is the only one to take on Key when it comes to election debates,Robinson and other pretenders have not the same grasp of the economy as has Cunliffe.As a leader he may be dominant but no lesser than Key,and also he may have a clean out of the overdue parliament pensionaries on the Labour front bench

  34. BM 34
    22 August 2013 at 2:31 pm

    Andrew Little with his eye on the crown for 2017.

    Unfortunately he has the personality and appeal of that dead snapper Shearer was holding up a couple of days ago.

    • Sable 34.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:52 pm

      If that’s true BM (and I seriously doubt it) he’d be better suited to National. Slimy and fishy are their speciality after all…

  35. Bruce 35
    22 August 2013 at 2:35 pm

    Is Peter Dunne still looking for a party to lead? 😉

  36. Tracey 36
    22 August 2013 at 2:44 pm

    He deserves credit for his decision.

    I admit I wanted him as leader and that turned out to be wrong.

    I hope he stays on however because I think a caucua like Labour’s needs an internal negotiator/diplomat to assist what at times must be vigorous disagreement.

    I was impressed with Robertson’s speech yesterday on the GCSB, seemed to have passion and fluidity. BUT I am not in any of the groups who get a say on this, so I leave it to them.

  37. Tim 37
    22 August 2013 at 2:48 pm

    Who the hell are the Oriental Bay left?!!!!!
    Christ – keep them at bay. And keep SJ at bay as well!.
    Are those Ortl Bay left the hob knobbers with former Mayors, DSW public “servants”, property develpers, Regional Council troughers and others that could genuinely lay claim to the nouveau riche ‘class’?
    Give me their names – I’ll send the nurses uniforms and whips right over. I’ll even send a bunch of flowers to the Hataitai matron.
    Meantime, until there’s an outcome where there’s a David Cunliffe leading the charge, I’ll plan on voting Greens/Mana.

    • Hayden 37.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:55 pm

      Who the hell are the Oriental Bay left?!!!!!

      I suspect it’s the replacement for “chardonnay socialist”, coined by people who don’t understand why, once you’ve done well enough for yourself, you’d continue to care about other people and their circumstances.

      • alwyn 37.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 4:00 pm

        Actually it’s the people who were tossed out of the “Wadestown Wadicals” when they all upped and joined the Green Party.

    • Rhinocrates 37.2
      22 August 2013 at 2:58 pm

      Through some weird distortion of topography, it’s the fantastic Oriental Bay left, i.e., those who profess nice virtues, but want National policies without admitting it, that have overlapped themselves with the equally mythical Waitakere men in an intersection somewhere deep in Loch Ness.

      Meantime, until there’s an outcome where there’s a David Cunliffe leading the charge, I’ll plan on voting Greens/Mana.

      Indeed.

  38. Rhinocrates 38
    22 August 2013 at 2:50 pm

    Done the honorable thing? Bullshit. Succumbed late to the inevitable, hopefully not too late. He, for the sake of his vanity and his cronies have held back the left for nearly two years.

    Piss off Mumblefuck, don’t let the door catch your arse on the way out.

    Is that spiteful? Sorry, my roof needs painting and perhaps my landlord could pay you a few bob to paint it for me. I have some beneficiary friends who could do with more than just some mango skins too.

    So any new leader will take at least a few weeks, and will need the support of the wider party as well as caucus

    At last! Now the membership and caucus have a chance to take back their party from the troughers.

    • Tracey 38.1
      22 August 2013 at 2:56 pm

      he could have hung on despite the detrimen tot he party, which is what Goff did.

      • weka 38.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 3:26 pm

        True, but it’s possible that he has stepped down because he’s reached his personal limit, which is nothing to do with the good of the party.

    • tinfoilhat 38.2
      22 August 2013 at 3:30 pm

      The caucus are the troughers.

    • Hami Shearlie 38.3
      22 August 2013 at 5:41 pm

      Hopefully the unions and ABC in Caucus won’t vote for Little against the wider membership’s wishes!!

  39. emergency mike 39
    22 August 2013 at 2:56 pm

    Well done for proving some people here wrong and seeing sense David Shearer. Now can the Labour Party please see sense, be grown ups, and get over any in house personal garbage, and admit that there is only one contender who:

    – Looks like a leader.
    – Looks to have genuine charisma and passion.
    – Has the speaking and debating ability to show up Key.

    It’s time to put what’s best for the country ahead of internal politics.

  40. Tim 40
    22 August 2013 at 3:04 pm

    Gerry Brownlee says “David Shearer is fundamentally a nice man” (to paraphrase RNZ 3pm news).
    How fckn magnanimous of him! Let’s hope for Jerr’s sake, the people of Christchurch are just as magnanimous. Sanctimonious insurance company arse-licker ChCh airport waddler the guy is!

    • bad12 40.1
      22 August 2013 at 3:22 pm

      LOLZ, the other part of the Jerry quote from RadioNZ was a hoot, ‘He is worried that the next leader of Labour will see that Party rise in the polls’,

      Jerry should be eying the real estate over on the opposition side of the aisle closely, November next year one of those benches will have to accommodate his expansive posterior…

  41. Short Plank 41
    22 August 2013 at 3:17 pm

    Once upon a time two armies manoeuvered for advantage on a plain, with a Kingdom awaiting the victor.

    One army was led by a quiet, thoughtful kind of guy who loathed war and battles but was greatly concerned with the welfare of the common folk of the Kingdom he hoped to win, knew what he wanted to do for their benefit if he won the battle and spent his time amongst the cooks and the armourers and the stable boys listing to their problems and trying to help them because he knew they are the people who really win battles, and felt more comfortable there because at heart he was one of them. Unfortunately the consequence of that was that few of the officers knew where he was.

    The other army was led by a handsome, flash bigmouth who had a gift of telling people what they wanted to hear, although he had few ideas of his own other than how nice it would be to be a King. He liked to ride out in front of his army where everyone could see him and stir their courage in is favour with meaningless soundbites and vapid sentiments.

    Guess who won the battle. And guess how well the kingdom was run afterwards.

    When politics comes down to a beauty contest, what the hell is the point of democracy?

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 41.1
      22 August 2013 at 3:33 pm

      When a blatantly false frame is used as an example, what can be made of the responses? They’d be as vacuous and empty as the original weasel words.

  42. Winston Smith 42
    22 August 2013 at 3:44 pm

    Keys getting quite the collection:

    Clark seen off
    Cullen vanquished
    Goff removed
    Campbell owned
    Shearer seen off

    Whos next?

  43. Colonial Viper 43
    22 August 2013 at 3:55 pm

    Would have been very tough for Shearer to do the GCSB presentation at the Auckland Town Hall, knowing that he was seriously considering moving on.

    Hit the end of Snapper Road, and that was that.

  44. Nicolas 44
    22 August 2013 at 4:02 pm

    Cunliffe has the charisma and he’s definitely very articulate.

    Still, I just don’t see that much “Labour” in a guy who lives (pretty sure he’s still there) in Hernes Bay, where houses sell for $2 million. Not that “Labour” to me…

    Jacinda Ardern would be my pick if I wasn’t a Green Party member.

    Oh, and I’m pretty positive nobody is going to vote for the guy who thought long and “hard”, and decided to use PUBLIC MONEY to buy porn. He paid it back, sure, but the simple fact he didn’t see a problem with spending that money in the first place… Screw Jones.

    • Pete 44.1
      22 August 2013 at 4:44 pm

      Aside from Bolger, every PM elected to office in the last 30 years has come from Auckland. Whoever carries the leadership needs to know Auckland very well to take the city and with it the country.

      • Murray Olsen 44.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 6:09 pm

        Key comes from Hawaii and Wall St. His knowledge of Auckland wouldn’t go much past the Northern Club.

    • Colonial Viper 44.2
      22 August 2013 at 5:08 pm

      Still, I just don’t see that much “Labour” in a guy who lives (pretty sure he’s still there) in Hernes Bay, where houses sell for $2 million. Not that “Labour” to me…

      Labour is a state of heart my friend 🙂

    • Hami Shearlie 44.3
      22 August 2013 at 5:54 pm

      Who cares where Cunliffe lives? Phil Goff doesn’t live in his electorate either, he’s on a leafy lifestyle block!! Cunliffe’s wife wanted to move there to be nearer the city so she could spend more time with her children. She is an environmental lawyer and probably earns triple what her husband earns. He could get a million dollar salary anywhere in NZ or overseas, so the fact that he chose to be the MP for New Lynn for many years should tell you that money is not his prime motivation – a very Labour attitude I would have thought!

      • Nicolas 44.3.1
        22 August 2013 at 6:22 pm

        Hami,

        I wasn’t really referring to what he could be doing, and how much money he could be making in other positions. I simply stated a fact: he lives in a million-dollar-home neighbourhood; that is not very “Labour”.

        Sorry, but you’re coming dangerously close to what Key fans usually say: “He is a millionaire and could be making a lot more if he wasn’t in politics. That proves he’s great!!!”

        I can’t help but feel a bit suspicious when representatives of the working class are very wealthy, that’s all. Not saying I’m against making money, but keeping so much that you can afford to live in a million-dollar home, when children are living in poverty in your own country? Not very Labour, mate.

        Again, I’d prefer Ardern…

        • Ant 44.3.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 6:59 pm

          Lucky you vote “Green” then :roll:. Nothing wrong with someone being successful if their principles, policies, and beliefs are Labour – that’s what makes them Labour.

        • saarbo 44.3.1.2
          22 August 2013 at 9:19 pm

          Jeez Nicholas, You need to use broader criteria than that to pick the right leader, I hear what your saying but I think Hami’s point is that Cunliffe has the skills and talents to be making a fortune in the private sector but instead he is committing to the Labour Party, so money isn’t his driver, you know what i mean. He’s a good man, a potential 3 term Prime Minister (IMHO) if given his chance. The only criticism that I hear of Cunliffe is that he has problems getting on with some in his caucus, well these people (Mallard, Goff, King) DONT have an alternative outside of parliament…hence I suspect the motive behind the poison that is thrown at Cunliffe from this lot, because their careers suddenly look a bit bleak if Cunliffe is made leader…he wont stand for their shit.

      • risildowgtn 44.3.2
        22 August 2013 at 7:31 pm

        Donkey dont even live in his Electarort either 😛

  45. Boadicea 45
    22 August 2013 at 4:12 pm

    Now for Phil, Mallard, Cosgrove and King to announce that they will not run in 2014.

  46. Steve 46
    22 August 2013 at 4:18 pm

    David, thank you for doing the right thing and putting the party before yourself.

    No good putting a “nice guy” up against slippery – Labour needs a bulldog.

    Cunliffe is the man for the job.

    Key is a snake oil salesman – it’s all front, smiles, bluster and “she’ll be right”. He is painfully short on facts, as the GCSB debate has amply demonstrated. Just repeats the same old talking points and patronises anyone who gets in his way.

    Cunliffe’s “no nonsense” style and encyclopaedic knowledge is the perfect counter for this white-shoed smiling spiv.

  47. yeshe 47
    22 August 2013 at 4:19 pm

    Time to rue the tragic loss of Charles Chauvel to United Nations — he could have been our most elegant, erudite and effective attorney general. We are going to need one to clean up the GCSB and TICs and TPPA messes.

  48. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 48
    22 August 2013 at 4:20 pm

    But I thought talk of a leadership change was all evil right wing propaganda.

    Advise urgently.

    • felix 48.1
      22 August 2013 at 6:06 pm

      Have you always had this problem with distinguishing between saying things that are true and saying things that are not true?

  49. Fair call 49
    22 August 2013 at 4:21 pm

    [deleted]

    [lprent: permanent ban for continuing to comment while banned – as promised. ]

  50. Don't worry. Be happy 50
    22 August 2013 at 4:34 pm

    The Labour Caucus/Head Office better not try and screw those of us who intend to rejoin the party to vote for Cunliffe with some trick that only those who were members before Shearer departed can vote in the upcoming leader election. They better bloody not try that one!

    And Moira, now’s the time to leave. Don’t wait till after the next election. Fran knows the way out. Both of you deserve a dead snapper. Shearer has his quota.

    In a funny way this looks like an own goal for Key…couldn’t keep his smarmy mouth shut about the meeting up the back stairs with Shearer over GCSB, now he gets to fight an election up against Cunliffe. I think there will be many a financial backer slapping him around the head about now although they may have to stand in line behind the NSA, CIA, FBI, GSCB, SIS. Sort of a belated snapper slapping for alphabet soup snoops..

  51. clashman 51
    22 August 2013 at 4:34 pm

    Snap election? Key paints the “leaderless” party as a complete shambles and romps home.(?)

    • Mary 51.1
      22 August 2013 at 4:47 pm

      It’s the Collins issue that’s more relevant to what’s going on in the land of Key.

      • Clashman 51.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 4:56 pm

        Wins election, stands down, Colins and co have plenty of time to fight among themselves and present a new leader well before the next election.
        Key is a cunning bastard so I’m looking for a downside to todays good news. Tbh I don’t know if it is feasible or not.

        • Mary 51.1.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 6:50 pm

          I wouldn’t read that much into it. Shearer was Key’s biggest asset. Key won’t be pleased he’s gone.

    • yeshe 51.2
      22 August 2013 at 6:04 pm

      see 50.1.1

  52. xtasy 52
    22 August 2013 at 4:38 pm

    YAAAAHOOOOO! YIPEEYEEEHHHH!

    We are getting there, David Cunliffe’s time has come, David, David, David, David, David, David Cunliffe, we WANT YOU NOW to take the lead, the challenge against that Key bastard. We need you, we expect you, your time and calling has come NOW.

    PLEASE stand up and take the challenge, please take up the leadership challenge, you are OUR HOPE and messenger.

    Now I am starting to see that Labour may be the next government, I certainly did not see Labour as such before. This is a radical game changer, and we are behind you, David, even us Greens!!!!

  53. Financially literate 53
    22 August 2013 at 4:42 pm

    John Key v Labour leaders: 3, 0

    I guess the question now is will it be 4 or 5 to 0 in the next 18 months.

    Good times.

    • bad12 53.1
      22 August 2013 at 4:53 pm

      Keep that wet dream coming FL, November 2014 will be all the sweeter the longer you are blind to the facts…

  54. Zaphod Beeblebrox 54
    22 August 2013 at 4:55 pm

    How about the rest of the caucus resign and the party members could pick the caucus. That would be proper democracy.

    • chris73 54.1
      22 August 2013 at 4:59 pm

      No no, you’ve got to keep the proles in line. Feed them a line or two about democracy but don’t let them have any real say…

      Which worked really well with Shearer

    • burt 54.2
      22 August 2013 at 5:01 pm

      Any chance Mallard and King can join him – I might go back to supporting Labour if they do.

      • mickysavage 54.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 5:06 pm

        Sorry Burt but Labour has standards …

        • burt 54.2.1.1
          22 August 2013 at 5:48 pm

          What total arrogance micksavage. I guess the donations I once made to other parties are not something your beloved party of retrospectively validated corrupt self serving useless unemployable idiots power at any price politics wants as it probably gets enough donations from the lowest paid workers via the unions.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 54.2.1.1.1
            22 August 2013 at 7:30 pm

            I’d take your money Burt; it’s your values that stick in the craw.

          • felix 54.2.1.1.2
            22 August 2013 at 9:40 pm

            “…from the lowest paid workers via the unions.”

            lolz burt. The lowest paid workers are not in unions.

  55. Not a PS Staffer 55
    22 August 2013 at 4:59 pm

    Robertson:
    Responsible for the chaotic running of Shearer’s Office
    Very poor election results in Wellington Central
    Ineligible

    Little
    List
    Insufficient Parliamentary experience
    Ineligible

    Jones
    List
    Pissed off every women member
    Ineligible

    • Murray Olsen 55.1
      23 August 2013 at 12:40 am

      Jones has pissed off a lot of men as well. Despite what Trotter says, left wing working men don’t all fit his archaic stereotype of Waitakere Man.

      • Colonial Viper 55.1.1
        23 August 2013 at 12:42 am

        Precisely. Just because the men wear filthy work boots and use swarfega doesn’t mean that they are into boorish macho bullshit from politicians.

      • Takere 55.1.2
        28 August 2013 at 12:38 pm

        “Waitakere Man” f$#k up is cunliffes. He doesn’t like beneficiaries, poor people and brown folks Murray. Sure Jones has pisst off a few latte drinkers but who cares? They’re in the minority, mixed in with the 5% swing voters. Hardly worth worrying about. 5% split 3 ways doesn’t add up to victory.

        • beGone Craven SpyBill leopard 55.1.2.1
          28 August 2013 at 1:26 pm

          @ Takere
          Who doesn’t like beneficiaries, poor people and brown folks? How about you provide some links to support your statements?

  56. Delia 56
    22 August 2013 at 5:01 pm

    What is Judith up to speaking out in public without Dear Leader’s permission. Is this a party in disarray? Watch this space. All power to your elbow, Labour.

  57. gobsmacked 57
    22 August 2013 at 5:01 pm

    So Shearer has gone. It was inevitable. Always was.

    The word I’ve been looking for is “Sorry”. Not so much from Shearer himself (let’s face it, ambition and self-delusion are part of politics). But a “Sorry” from those who have denied reality for nearly two years. A reality that stared them in the face, week in, week out.

    Along with many others on here, I have been called everything from “agent provocateur” to “Key fan” (!) simply for saying what was blindingly obvious. Many other Labour voters (yes, I’ve always been one) have been abused in similar fashion. Nothing has been more damaging to the Labour party than the behaviour of those who insisted – time and time again – that if “you don’t support Shearer, you iz Tory!”. Not only that you were wrong, but that you attacked those who dared to question (and by “question”, I mean state the obvious).

    He was the wrong person for the job. Ultimately, he knew it too. And we weren’t wrong to say so. We were damn right.

    An apology from the few to the many would be a good way to start the healing, on the path to unity. How about it?

    • burt 57.1
      22 August 2013 at 5:03 pm

      An apology from power crazed lefties with no other focus than to gain the levers of power – don’t hold your breath – the last electable “dear leader” never once apologised – her stain of self serving absolute power at any price is still very visible in the party.

  58. Mongoose 58
    22 August 2013 at 5:22 pm

    Why on earth would you support David Cunliffe for leadership knowing full well we would be back to the same position as before with much of the caucus unsupportive? Otherwise they would have picked him before. No, what we need is someone all factions can get behind. That’s what we need to think about.
    I disagree that 40% of the membership will automatically vote for Cunliffe.
    But if that happens we will only be back to square one – a divided caucus. And like it or not a divided caucus will not bring a united election campaign.
    Grant Robertson would be one I would look at very closely.

    • Colonial Viper 58.1
      22 August 2013 at 6:32 pm

      Dude, you could sign Savage himself on as an MP in this Labour Party and caucus would be backstabbing him within a month.

    • weka 58.2
      22 August 2013 at 7:21 pm

      “Why on earth would you support David Cunliffe for leadership knowing full well we would be back to the same position as before with much of the caucus unsupportive? Otherwise they would have picked him before.”

      really? because the way I heard it, the vote was very close for Cunliffe. One analysis is that there is a central block that can go either way, so the idea that much of caucus is unsupportive needs some backing up.

    • Ant 58.3
      22 August 2013 at 7:24 pm

      Grant wasn’t even a front runner in the last race he had to go deputy to even get a sniff. By Mongoose logic he’s even less suitable than Cunliffe – otherwise he would have been in the top 2 contenders for the last vote.

  59. oftenpuzzled 59
    22 August 2013 at 5:52 pm

    I agree Mongoose. The Standard’s support base appears very Auckland focussed, hence its support borders on the fanatical for Cunliffe, so much so that you have been placing him on a higher and higher pedestal since the last election. There are labour supporters outside Auckland and we do not necessarily view Cunliffe as the ‘god-sent leader of all time’. We do not know him well, just as you say Robertson, Little etc are not known beyond their Electorates. Do tell me why Cunliffe is a preferred choice? My contact with him, which I admit is limited, suggests an arrogance which gave off an intolerance which I found most uncomfortable and insulting, something that I see in Key. Do we want this sort of leader for the Labour Party?
    Anyway one of the things that must happen from now on is that whomever is the leader we MUST stand behind her/him and put every effort into being rid of this current regime. All this back stabbing that I have heard on this blog has to stop if we want Labour in power next election. It’s a hell of a job and I’m not sure if we fully comprehend the intrusion it has into personal and family life, friendships, in fact their whole life. Tolerating snake in the grass comments of people who are ‘couch Politians’, media who are out for a quick headline and acting as authorities on political decisions showing all their baises must be exhausting and depressing. It’s never, never easy and impossible to please everyone. Let’s be supportive of our next leader and put our all behind them.

    • Mongoose 59.1
      22 August 2013 at 6:08 pm

      Good points oftenpuzzled.

      • Colonial Viper 59.1.1
        22 August 2013 at 6:35 pm

        Gawd, the area around Molesworth St really echoes.

        Let’s be supportive of our next leader and put our all behind them.

        I don’t support chairs, I support the person in the chair. And if they ain’t worth supporting, I got plenty else to get on with.

    • weka 59.2
      22 August 2013 at 6:32 pm

      “The Standard’s support base appears very Auckland focussed, hence its support borders on the fanatical for Cunliffe,”

      I suspect that the reason there are lots of Aucklanders here, as opposed to say people from Gore, is because of the size of population.

      I don’t live in Auckland, and don’t feel fanaticism for Cunliffe, although I do think he is the best choice. I also don’t see the Cunliffe supporters here as particularly fanatical and wonder why that attempt at marginalisation is appearing now.

      The reasons I think Cunliffe is a good choice is because I’ve watched analysis of both Cunliffe supporters and opposers, and the bigger problems within the Labour caucus. But what really did if for me was seeing the demographics of the MPs that apparently support him.

      Team Shearer (12)
      David Shearer, Phil Goff, Annette King, Trevor Mallard, David Parker, Clayton Cosgrove, Damien O’Connor, Darien Fenton, Kris Fa’afoi, Ross Robertson, Maryan Street, Ruth Dyson.

      The Young and The Restless (8)
      Grant Robertson, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, Phil Twyford, Clare Curran, Megan Woods, Ian Lees-Galloway, David Clark.

      Cunliffe’s People (10)
      David Cunliffe, Lianne Dalziel, Moana Mackey, Nanaia Mahuta, Louisa Wall, Sue Moroney, Rajen Prasad, Rino Tirikatene, Su’a William Sio, Raymond Huo,

      Team Wavering (3)
      Shane Jones, Carol Beaumont, Andrew Little

      – See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/07/09/breaking-labour-party-coup-watch-warning-upgrade/#sthash.ywrOuJim.dpuf

    • Colonial Viper 59.3
      22 August 2013 at 6:37 pm

      The Standard’s support base appears very Auckland focussed, hence its support borders on the fanatical for Cunliffe

      This statement is going to get you into trouble, for starters…

    • lprent 59.4
      22 August 2013 at 6:56 pm

      The Standard’s support base appears very Auckland focussed,

      Not excessively. Over the last 30 days about 90% from NZ (the GCSB debate has been watched a lot from offshore – usually it is at ~95% NZ). And remember this is done on GeoIP which is somewhat inaccurate.

      Inside that

      Auckland 45%
      Wellington 20%
      Christchurch 9%
      Dunedin 6%
      Hamilton 3%

      The Auckland and Wellington figures tend to get somewhat distorted because of the head office problem. “unallocated” IP’s show up there. So we seem to get a high number of places like Raglan showing up as being in Auckland when I know that they are on the other side of the Bombays.

      Now from google the rough estimates for population % in urban areas is

      Auckland 34%
      Wellington 10%
      Christchurch 9%
      Dunedin 3%
      Hamilton 4%

      Quite simply Auckland has a vast population compared to everywhere else. It is >3x the next largest urban area

      We are predictably over represented in urban areas (although how much of that is due to GeoIP is up for question).

      Try google “population of x”

      • weka 59.4.1
        22 August 2013 at 7:09 pm

        Whenever I look up my IP online it shows as Auckland (presumably due to being a vodafone customer). I live in the South Island.

    • chris 59.5
      22 August 2013 at 7:01 pm

      bollocks… oops timing, my comment was a response to 59

    • Hami Shearlie 59.6
      22 August 2013 at 7:20 pm

      That may be your opinion of Cunliffe after limited exposure , but a relative of mine knows him very, very well, has worked voluntarily in his electorate and others, and has completely the opposite view, which is also the view of his electorate and parliamentary staff who have worked closely with him for many years. I think they may know him best.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 59.7
      22 August 2013 at 7:37 pm

      Oftenpuzzled, getting behind the leader is for authoritarians and their apologists. If all the intelligent voices “follow the party line” the only dissent comes from the fringe.

      Debate is necessary for healthy democracy. Our democracy is sick, which is why debate can be spun as somehow a bad thing.

      Don’t shoot the messenger.

  60. Richard Christie 60
    22 August 2013 at 6:25 pm

    Best to go with whoever Hooton attacks the hardest, lol.

  61. Paul 61
    22 August 2013 at 6:26 pm

    Anyone else that all the Nat shills, trolls and puppets are here in force today.
    Have they been ordered here?
    Double pay today to disrupt, distract and dribble on….

  62. geoff 62
    22 August 2013 at 6:38 pm

    YOU FUCKING BEAUTY!!!

  63. leftie 63
    22 August 2013 at 6:52 pm

    Not in the Labour Party but its quite obvious you all need to vote for Cunliffe. $10 says Hooton and Farrar will start talking up Robertson.

    Little would make a good deputy.

    • felix 63.1
      22 August 2013 at 9:47 pm

      Yep Hooton was already singing his praises on radiolive this avo.

      Was pretty funny actually, the poor wee man was in quite a panic and spinning so hard he didn’t know whether he was coming or going.

  64. feijoa 64
    22 August 2013 at 6:53 pm

    To David Shearer- what a relief it must be to let it go – your face seemed to say you weren’t exactly relishing the job. You should sleep well at night now!

    Can anybody say what is wrong with Cunliffe?- why don’t the insiders like him ?
    Because really I don’t know who else could take on Key – has anyone actually seen Cunliffe DEBATE? I have seen him spout forth very well, but can’t recall a debate with an opponent as such

    • Anne 64.1
      22 August 2013 at 7:39 pm

      He debates extremely well in the House. He’s not the only one but I would say he is the most consistent very good debater.

      The insiders (more commonly known as the ABC Club) didn’t like him because he was too smart for their liking. It’s called the Tall Poppy Syndrome. Since then, David has stayed quiet and appears to have done his best not to outsmart upset them. He’s done his time in the dog box and now it’s time to let him off the leash and take it to Key.

      Interesting to note that the chiefs of the ABC club stood around Shearer as he made his resignation speech, and the look on Mallard’s face suggests he’s furious. Not a good sign.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 64.2
      22 August 2013 at 7:41 pm

      Akshully, the ability to engage with the electorate is a lot more vital than success in gladiatorial combat with a bored sociopath.

      • Anne 64.2.1
        22 August 2013 at 8:09 pm

        I was answering two questions put forward by feijoa.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 64.2.1.1
          25 August 2013 at 8:44 am

          So was I. Hence my comment is numbered “64.2”, not “64.1.1”.

      • chris73 64.2.2
        22 August 2013 at 10:08 pm

        yeah because keys biggest weakness is his inability to engage with the public…

        • Pasupial 64.2.2.1
          22 August 2013 at 11:18 pm

          Chris73

          Interesting that the description; “bored sociopath” has come to indicate Key, even for yourself.

          • chris73 64.2.2.1.1
            23 August 2013 at 7:31 am

            Not really, some things are just so patently absurd they don’t dignify an answer but if thats what you really want then here goes: “I disagree with the assertion that John Key is a sociopath”

            He may well be bored as he hasn’t had a challenge since Dear Leader but that doesn’t make him a sociopath

            Happy?

  65. Treetop 65
    22 August 2013 at 9:48 pm

    I am not going to right Shearer off when it comes to being part of rejuvenating the Labour caucus. I do think that there is a place for him which is a better fit. It is nice to see a noble politician who puts the team ahead of his own aspirations and to have self awareness.

    I predicted on open mike dated 12 February 2013 that “In August is my guess, six months to see if there is a poll improvement and then the chop or a resignation by Shearer.”

  66. millsy 66
    23 August 2013 at 8:45 am

    An enemy of the unions is an enemy of democracy and a supporter of sweated labour. Yes that is you Brett. Your desire for the outlawing of unions is blatant.

    Cunliffe for leader
    Little deputy
    Robertson OUT
    Shearer in Foreign affairs

    Big changes coming.

  67. Tracey 67
    23 August 2013 at 8:54 am

    Speak to the power of unions without talking lots about unions…

    Higher wages
    Better conditions
    No free overtime
    Germany thrives with strong Unions
    Australia has strong unions
    It’s about fairness and balance…

    The sky hasn’t fallen in Germany or Australia (alth I see the CEO of Fletcher building wants unions scRAPPED IN Australia WHICH SUGGEST fLETCHERS IS ENJOYING ITS PROFITS IN nz ON THE BACK OF MINIMUM WAGE PAID AND NON UION EMPLOYEES.T)