More love for Labour’s list

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, May 8th, 2017 - 18 comments
Categories: election 2017, journalism, labour - Tags: ,

Another good review of Labour’s list from an anonymous editorial in The Herald:

Fresh Labour line-up needs higher profile

As voters, we ought to look at party election lists much closer than we probably do. That applies particularly to the list of the main party out of power.

It applies to both main parties equally. Outside “the bubble” governing MPs are not so well known as you think.

But it is the top 10 or 20 on the list that need to be better known. They would be likely to comprise the cabinet if Labour leads a government. After Little, Ardern, Robertson and Twyford, the highest ranking names are the little-known Megan Woods, education spokesman Chris Hipkins, Carmel Sepuloni, who is often seen but seldom heard, and David Clark, David Parker and Stuart Nash.

Clark and Nash both impress as potential top flight ministers, Parker was a very good minister in the previous Labour Government. … Some of the names in the top 20, which presumably means they have cabinet potential, are completely new. Priyanca Radhakrishnan (11), Jan Tinetti (14), Willow-Jean Prime (16) and Kiri Allan (20) are all candidates in marginal or unwinnable seats and Labour clearly wants them in Parliament whatever happens. Prime stood in the Northland byelection when Labour virtually gave its vote to Peters.

It is a fresh-looking line-up, led by MPs who have been in opposition long enough to have won their spurs and feel they are more than ready to move into the Beehive. Their leader is not polling strongly so they need to present a team. Among their top 10 they appear to have more than enough talent. Now they must work out how to project it.

So what is the best way for Labour to “project” its talent? Suggestions in comments welcome.

One possibility of course is for those whose business is projection to do their best to inform the public. Hey Herald, how about featuring a detailed comparison when National’s list emerges from its smoke filled room? How about an ongoing series on the issues facing NZ (poverty, housing, environment, infrastructure etc) with input from Nat and Labour list members? How about a series on regional issues (you know – outside Auckland) with input from both parties? Sure would be great to have a well informed election this time.

18 comments on “More love for Labour’s list ”

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  1. ropata 1
    8 May 2017 at 9:47 am

    Apparently the RW bloggers are going nuts over the Labour list and saying it’s an attack on Maori. Kelvin Davis has attempted to set the record straight but, over 2 separate interviews Mihingarangi Forbes seemed determined to misunderstand Labour’s list strategy
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2017/05/rotorua-fastest-growing-area-for-housing-qv-price-index-shows.html?ref=ves-nextauto
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2017/05/labour-raising-the-bar-for-other-parties-despite-lack-of-m-ori-at-top-of-the-list-kelvin-davis.html

    • Morrissey 1.1
      8 May 2017 at 11:43 am

      Apparently the RW bloggers are going nuts over the Labour list and saying it’s an attack on Maori.

      Right wing bloggers are sticking up for Maori now, are they? Or is that just another very dark and very cruel joke?

  2. Wainwright 2
    8 May 2017 at 10:08 am

    Given the absolute dog’s brekafast National have made of education over the past nine years it’s a bit of a owrry no one knows who Chris Hipkins is. What has he been doing??? At least Nash knows how to get headlines, even if he does it by sticking both feet in his mouth on Facebook.

    It’s easy to blame the Herald for everything but Labour needs a clear message, not more reams of policy, and has to talk about real solutions to real issues, not mumble about how poverty is bad then turn around and try and appeaase Tory commentators by promising not to do anything about taxes.

    • The Fairy Godmother 2.1
      8 May 2017 at 11:13 am

      I think Hipkins is very clear about what he stands for. I have given up on TV and the Herald as my main source of news for some time so I am probably better informed than you.

    • The Fairy Godmother 2.2
      8 May 2017 at 11:17 am

      I think Hopkins is very clear about what he stands for. I have given up on TV and the Herald as my main source of news for some time so I am probably better informed than you.

    • left_forward 2.3
      8 May 2017 at 11:21 am

      Maybe its just you who doesn’t know who Hipkins is.

      • garibaldi 2.3.1
        8 May 2017 at 11:31 am

        Who can ever forget Hipkin’s vitriolic attack on David Cunliffe on the TV News ?

        • Jilly Bee 2.3.1.1
          8 May 2017 at 12:18 pm

          I haven’t forgotten garibaldi – and not forgiven him over that outburst.

        • Wainwright 2.3.1.2
          8 May 2017 at 8:53 pm

          It’s a great achievement that after nine years in opposition the only thing he’s known for is abusing the position of Chief Whip to attack a member of his caucus on TV.

    • ropata 2.4
      8 May 2017 at 1:40 pm

      Good points Wainwright it’s easy to forget that it’s only political tragics that hang out in forums like this and the vast majority of people are “low information” voters.

      Evidence and statistics (and reams of policy) alone do not win votes, it’s having a consistent and clear vision and inspiring leaders that will win over the electorate.

  3. One Anonymous Bloke 3
    8 May 2017 at 10:43 am

    Another suggestion for the Herald: fact check all opinion pieces, including statements from candidates, and refuse to publish anything that is demonstrably false.

    You know, do your job as a journal of record.

  4. Keith 4
    8 May 2017 at 11:39 am

    I’d like to see Little​ and others being more forthright. Playing with a straight bat and being all wishy washy is not going to achieve anything.

    Example was last night’s meeting in South Auckland where Louisa Wall appeared to get stuck in the technical when asked by shopkeepers what Labour were going to do about them being victims to serious crime, today, here and now.

    She should have said this is what happens when National cut funding to the police for tax cuts, less cops, more scope for crime. We are funding genuine extra police, we’re amending criminal law to ensure youth criminals are held to account.

    But fannying around telling scared people it’s about poverty etc etc may be technically correct but that’s not what they need right now. They need real measures right now to address a very worrying issue.

    A total unconvincing fail at a gimme subject. I’m sure Wall had given the subject little thought but Labour should have had this obvious open wound subject sorted years ago. They appear to have stuff all policy.

    • Morrissey 4.1
      8 May 2017 at 11:40 am

      I heard Wall chuntering on as well. Truly cringe-inducing.

      • Jilly Bee 4.1.1
        8 May 2017 at 12:25 pm

        As cringe-inducing as Parmjeet Parmar? I would have liked to hear more of what Louisa Wall had to say – most of it would have been edited out. I would have liked to have heard what Michael Wood said, his electorate has been affected by these robberies.

  5. david 5
    9 May 2017 at 7:25 am

    There is a lack of diversity on Labour’s list. Only one of the winnable party list seats is of Asian origin. That is <2% compared to 12% of the NZ population. Is Labour deliberately trying to disenfranchise the Asian vote?

    Why is there a gender quota when Asian representation is far worse?

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