David Shearer suspends rule-breaking Labour MP

Labour Party leader David Shearer has moved quickly to discipline one of his MPs for failing to declare a pecuniary interest.

Keep The Debate Going!

David Shearer will almost certainly receive a 100% endorsement from his caucus when they meet to vote on his leadership today.

This will horrify some on the left who are convinced Shearer is a liability and must go. Personally I don't care any more, because there doesn't really seem to be an end to the criticism of Labour's leader, and what good does it do? Is anyone listening?

A Labour Membership Vote Seems Unlikely

Could it be true? Could Labour Party leader David Shearer really be about to call for a general party membership vote on his leadership?

Eddie at The Standard says it is going to happen.

Who Should We Blame For the Black Caps?

David Shearer's many faults are clear for all to see. He is too soft and nice for politics. His treatment of David Cunliffe also shows him to be far too nasty, arrogant and power-crazed to hold office. He is too right-wing, too left-wing, too centrist, and a neoliberal to boot. His policy proposals are both too timid and too radical. He is weak and has allowed himself to be dominated by a few in caucus, even as he ruthlessly dispatched to the back-benches a caucus member who challenged him. Labour's rise in the polls in recent months is a mere accident, because everyone who reads the blogs knows Shearer's not up to the job. And those people who write the blogs sure know a thing or two, don't they?

The Post I Never Posted

I spent hours and hours writing a blogpost attacking Labour's various failings, and explaining why the February caucus vote would be a defeat for David Shearer, no matter how it went. I concluded in my post that the party was doomed under its current leader, that just about everything everyone had said on The Standard was spot on, and that the polls showing Labour gains were deceptive because John Key would humble David Shearer during the 2014 election campaign. I argued that history showed that a seasoned incumbent would always destroy a wet-between-the-ears newbie during a leadership debate. We all remember what Helen Clark did to an inexperienced John Key in 2008, and how as a result Labour won an unprecedented fourth term in office, don't we?

Transcript Of Labour Party Caucus Meeting

David Shearer: Thanks everyone for attending this special caucus meeting. I know the last few days have been tumultuous ones, but we need to address the behaviour of one of our caucus members.

Trevor: Yeah, and we all know who.

Some Advice To Labour's Leader

1. Be strong. Be decisive. Cunliffe must be punished for his disloyalty. Although David Cunliffe has done nothing wrong, so you should not punish him too hard. In fact, Cunliffe is the victim in all of this. Any punishment should be meted out to others, those who created this gigantic mess in the first place. Like Chris Hipkins, who spoke out so aggressively against Mr Cunliffe. Of course, Hipkins might have been speaking out on your instructions, in which case you're the one to blame, and you owe Hipkins an apology for making him do your dirty work. On the other hand, Cunliffe has been plotting with mischievous intent, so stick to the original plan and punish him and promote Hipkins for being so loyal, before punishing Hipkins.  Except Cunliffe hasn't done anything wrong. Unless he has. Don't listen to the lies other people are spreading, unless it suits you to do so, unless in doing so you find yourself acting unethically, unless you have some "greater good" argument to justify acting unethically in the short term. Be your own man. Be strong, be inclusive and accommodate your enemies, and crush them too. Don't put up with disloyalty, but dissent and debate are healthy signs so long as nobody questions you. Are you going to tolerate that sort of backstabbing? There are too many people trying to tell you what to do. Don't listen to anyone else. Follow your heart and just do what's right. Are you writing this down?

I Am Backing David

I've been surprised at the volume of unadulterated garbage written about what is going on within the Labour Party.

A Day In The Life Of Patrick Gower

5:08 am

Just asked David Cunliffe the big questions: "Does David Shearer have your full support? How will you vote if the leadership issue is put to the vote in caucus?" He won't answer me. I ask him again. Still no answer. My cameraman suggests we come back later and try again, when Cunliffe's awake. We climb out his bedroom window.

A Leader's Speech?

David Shearer today delivered a strong speech to the Labour Party conference. It's an address few of his detractors will like, because he devoted insufficient time in his speech to bringing the dead back to life, healing the sick, or walking on water.

A Day In The Life Of That Labour MP

9:46 am

I am weary, for I have slept little. But I cannot linger here, as there is work to be done.

Last night was a late one, as I plotted with my minions in a secret chamber beneath the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial. There we feasted on the blood of virgins, made our diabolical plans, and prayed to dark unholy things, until at last a portal opened up from the underworld. We saw things that frightened and thrilled us, and left us trembling in a mad anticipation for the things that must soon pass.

Not Playing

I have to agree with David Farrar on one thing. I suspect he has been around politics far too long, if everywhere he looks he sees plots. Farrar may be guilty of wishful thinking.

And On The Forty-Fourth Day

When David Shearer was chosen as Labour Party leader I told a few people that we needed to give him a year to settle into the job.

I've been critical of Shearer at times, but I have not called for him to be replaced. I have always said "let's give the man 12 months as leader, and then we'll see."

David Shearer has 43 days to go.

Speculation Grows About Speculation About Labour

There is growing speculation about the likelihood of further speculation about the leadership of the Labour Party.

Speculation has been growing for some time that a move to speculate on a move to oust David Shearer may be coming soon.

Discipline

Labour MP Shane Jones appeared on TVNZ's Q&A show over the weekend to debate with Gareth Hughes over plans for a Ross Sea marine reserve.

Another Day In The Life Of The Sensible Blogger

(Read my earlier post about the Sensible Blogger here)

10:04 am 

Oh dear! I see that the Prime Minister has gone crazy with an axe and has put thirty people in hospital. I don't approve of such things, but he is under a lot of pressure. The current political environment is toxic, and the opposition parties have a lot to answer for.

Transcript of Labour Leader's Speech to Caucus Members

Thanks, team, for joining me here. It's been a good spell for us. John Key's in serious trouble, and we haven't had an own goal from one of our MPs for at least 24 hours. Wait... Trevor, are you tweeting again? Trevor! Put it away!

Anyway, we're still having a devil of a time connecting with the voters. We're struggling to get our faces in front of the public. Part of the problem is that whenever the media want a quote from the opposition they go to Winston or Russel instead of us.

Labour Blamed For Robot Army Attack

Questions were again raised about the leadership of David Shearer today, after a giant robot army descended from the skies and laid waste to most of the North Island.

As the horde of killer machines spread fire and death in all directions, there was no news from the Labour Party leader about how he would deal with the crisis.

Blame Labour

The week has started badly for John Key. Yesterday we learned that National are down in the latest political poll, and today we hear that our intelligence folk may have been allegedly acting unlawfully. The last bit of news is a bit of a problem for John Key, since he's the guy in charge of that particular area of government. It's going to be difficult for him to say "oh I didn't bother to read the report."

David Shearer On Q&A

If you had only one word to describe this effort by David Shearer, what would it be?