It appears that a number of Labour caucus members loathe Cunliffe with such a passion that they would prefer he didn't return from his overseas holiday.
Garner reports that sources within the Labour caucus have told him that Cunliffe will never be leader, no matter what happens.
But Cunliffe is not only disliked by his caucus - he is not trusted. So many have told me he never delivers on his promises and is sneaky and lazy.
Sources have told me Shearer was advised to demote him when he became Labour's leader, but Shearer resisted and said he wanted to work with Cunliffe.
That hasn't worked apparently - my sources tell me Shearer is deeply disappointed with Cunliffe and he feels let down. This relationship cannot last.Garner of course will not name his sources, and we could hardly expect him to.
I have no idea what the heck is going on within Labour's caucus. The David Cunliffe I know is affable and personable, and happens to be the most effective communicator within the entire party.
I suppose it's possible he's playing some kind of despicable Machiavellian game, and is actively stirring and causing trouble, and that he's also good at hiding his character flaws from schmucks like me.
But even if everything people are saying about Cunliffe turns out to be true, isn't that something that ought to be dealt with internally within the party, rather than on the pages of a news website?
Maybe some bright sparks within Labour's caucus have figured that the only way they'll get rid of Cunliffe is if they make it known publicly that he'll never lead the party.
It's a bit of a problem, though, when Cunliffe appears more closely ideologically aligned to the party's activist base than the rest of caucus. How exactly do those bright sparks in caucus with their knives out for Cunliffe think the party's base will treat such a brazen attack?
And what about those soft Labour voters who might conclude from all of this that their party is a dead loss?
Or maybe being in opposition is such fun that some within Labour's caucus are keen to do it for another five years.
Everyone is mentioning "sources within the Labour caucus" on this. Has no one in Labour got the guts to stand up to Mallard and stand up for the future of the party?
ReplyDeleteWhile he remains the recovery gets harder and the rebuild gets delayed even more. If it's not to late already.
I don't think that there are large ideological differences between Cunliffe and others, however he has been willing to speak his mind on issues, and give speeches that aren't hopelessly focussed grouped into 6pm dreariness. Maybe other people give speeches like that, but they don't semi publicly release them. Seem to be stuck in a rut in NZ whereby Finance Minister needs to be very dry and boring for people to see them as credible, and as Economic Development spokesperson Cunliffe is using his skills in that area to articulate some sort of vision, which is probably more him thinking aloud. Apart from that slight nitpicking I totally agree articles like this are totally counterproductive and whoever is behind is mad and should get lost!
ReplyDeleteI agree who ever is behind this is mad and should get lost.
ReplyDeleteRemember journalists are always searching for stories to claim attention and I note
there are no credits to enable fact checking here.
Like many others I recognize that Labour needs Cunliffe's ability, he is intelligent and has good political instincts.
I am tired of being poorly governed and endless spin, this is just a distraction.
Eco Gal.
Is Cunliffe the NZ Labour Party's Kevin Rudd ?
ReplyDeleteQuite possibly. Whoever was responsible for this should be taking a long hard look in the mirror, and then thinking about what they want to be doing after they resign.
ReplyDelete