Labour has in recent weeks suffered a series of setbacks, with reports of an anti-David Cunliffe faction in caucus, and with evidence of growing anger among activist members about the targetting of beneficiaries by Shearer and other MPs in speeches and online posts.
David Shearer today told Radio New Zealand that he was not concerned about the loss of some activist members.
"The reality is that no matter what we do people will always complain," said Shearer.
"We've got some top people advising us, and I'm confident they will do for me what they did for Phil Goff. Let's not forget that we almost won the last election, and would have formed the government in 2011 but for the historically low turnout for Labour."
David Shearer acknowledged that many of the activists now quitting or threatening to quit the party had worked hard in the past for Labour.
"But times have changed," said Mr Shearer. "We can't be stuck in the past, and we can't go on doing things the same way. We need to ask ourselves some tough questions. For example, why do investment bankers almost never vote for Labour?"
Mr Shearer said he was confident that making the party more attractive to voters traditionally hostile to Labour would reap rewards in 2014.
"Look how well National did in 2011. There's a lesson for Labour in that result. We need to identify more with the people who voted National. That means making some tough choices."
Those tough choices would include a complete re-brand for the party, said Mr Shearer. This would involve a name change to avoid the "negative connotations" associated with the term "Labour", and a change of party colours from red to blue.
"We're very pleased with the new logo," said Mr Shearer.
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| David Shearer has revealed the new logo for his party, and he has gone for a traditional look |
"We've got a plan to raise a million dollars in the next twelve months. We're going to use that money to build a super-robot to take the place of all the activists we'll be losing.
"This robot will deliver pamphlets, knock on doors, put up election hoardings, and stand in the rain holding party banners, in every electorate in the country.
"And if we run out of money to build it we can always raise more by moving a bit more to the right."
If they can get everyone who voted for National last time to vote for Labour this time, then they'll have a historic victory!
ReplyDeleteHehe far too cruel ...
ReplyDeleteYou had me going until the logo. Poe's law, I guess.
ReplyDeleteThe Labour party needs better billboards, but can't afford them.
ReplyDeleteProposal - Move even further to the Right, and John Ansell will do them for free. A "cost-effective" solution!
In a surprise announcement, political insider Duncan Garner has said that senior Labour caucus members are planning a revolt against David Shearer's new plans.
ReplyDelete"I was contacted anonymously by two senior Labour MPs - who would only describe themselves as 'Trevor' and 'Annette' - and they tell me that they're leading the charge to depose Shearer over this change of direction."
While they don't give a toss about the political philosophy of Shearer's move to the hard right, they're apparently deeply concerned about losing their comfortable jobs to the high-powered intellectuals on National's front bench.
"Both 'Trevor' and 'Annette' seemed genuinely terrified at the thought of having to compete with heavyweights like Anne Tolley, Paula Bennett and Maggie Barrie on the National list", said Garner. "They were very open and honest about the fact that their laziness, lightweight recycling of press releases and who-gives-a-toss attitudes were well short of the work ethic demonstrated by Tolley, Bennett and others."
As Garner noted, "When you've got used to playing the buffoon in Parliament over a period of decades, having to step it up to the level of Collins and Bennett is an almost impossible ask. No wonder they're getting cold feet about Shearer!"
Hey Scott, Jane Clifton in the Listener has described you as a "prominent leftist blogger".
ReplyDeleteWell, you are a blogger ... ;)