Three Ministers sacked, 23 to go!
Well while I’ve been drinking and sleeping in Blackpool, Helen has just sacked three Ministers – Paul Swain, Marian Hobbs and George Hawkins.
If anyone believes this step down voluntarily crap, I have a bridge for them to buy. Whale Oil is also cynical.
In theory the Cabinet is elected by the Labour Caucus but in reality the PM puts up a slate of candidates she wants, and they have always been endorsed. The slate is decided after consultation with key people and factions.
So let’s be clear. They are not making themselves available because the PM told them they would not be on her list of nominees. Or H2 told them.
I can also tell you from my experience no Minister *ever* wants to return to the backbenches unless they have serious familiy issues such as sick spouse or kids.
The fact that Marian mentioned several times that one of the reasons people should vote for her, is because she will be in Cabinet and can deliver, suggest that the sacking was forced not voluntary.
Anyway will be interesting to see who gets promoted. Certainly this gives Clark a lot more flexibility, so is quite smart from her point of view.
This leaves 15 Ministers inside Cabinet and seven outside, including Field who will go. O’Connor and Cunliffe have to be the two most likely to get promoted to inside Cabinet.
UPDATE: Gman took notes from the meetings where Marian said you should vote for her because she will be in Cabinet.
I shoudl note that I regarded Swain as one of the better Labour Ministers (he did recommend local loop unbundling) and Marian had become okay also, after a rough start. I’m somewhat surprised they were both pushed out.
October 4th, 2005 at 9:42 pm
Swainy has a new sprog whom they were showing on the news. The desire to spend more time with his family is at least partially true. But I think he quit out of extreme job dissatisfaction.
On the other hand, I’m staggered that Hobbs went.
October 4th, 2005 at 9:46 pm
Why was Swain ditched? For Winston? Because he’s too ‘right wing’?
October 4th, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Both Swain and Hawkins have health issues, particularly Swain so I would be very slow to infer they were sacked. But Hobbs, quite possibly. That leaves 2 vacancies for the Greens plus 1. Looks like Dunne is out, she can live without him anyway as he is 1 seat short to be of any use for now. But I think she can get rid of the veterans like King and Sutton, they go back to the 1980s, so it is time I think.
October 4th, 2005 at 10:15 pm
sorry david I think you are completey wrong, usually you make a little sense but not here.
George hawkins I could understand, even marian while a good performer recently i could understand if she was pushed… but paul swain?? he has been a strong minister and was going to be promoted this time around.
what probaley happened is that all minsiters were asked to consider their futures and if any felt that they didnt want to continue then to say so because some fresh faces were needed…
these three volunteered, very honourable in my opinion.
October 4th, 2005 at 10:47 pm
tristan, can you play The Bum of the Flightle Bee?
October 4th, 2005 at 10:59 pm
DPF…this bridge you have for sale, how long is it, and have you used it much? I’m guessing not because you seem to prefer leaping from one conclusion to another.;-)
October 4th, 2005 at 11:37 pm
I can confirm…Marian must have been pushed.
At a cottage meeting on 4th Aug. at our house in front of 39 attendees she vehemently gave as the reason we should give our electorate vote to her was that she would be far more effective as a Wgtn Central representative within Cabinet than an elected member outside Cabinet.
A real porkie if the spin is she had privately indicated she was prepared to stand down 18 months ago.
I dont believe that….nor should anyone else!
October 5th, 2005 at 8:27 am
I’ve got a game for you DPF – it’s from the movie “Office Space”. It’s called jump to conclusions…
I figure you know the rest…
October 10th, 2005 at 8:23 pm
George Hawkins sacked!! At last.
Surely the end of an error.