Reshuffle Speculation
October 31st, 2007 at 8:00 am by David FarrarThe NZ Herald makes its picks for both seats and portfolios. They pick Hodgson to lose Health.
The Dom Post has their views here.
I think the announcement is at 1 pm. I’ll blog details as I get them.
October 31st, 2007 at 8:03 am
Oh neat, Ms King is to be a ” super justice” minister , great stuff , what a circus of dangerous fools . Talk about smooth operators shuffling from a marked deck of cards !
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 8:04 am
Next they will be introducing a Star Chamber!
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 8:07 am
Seems like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic?
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 8:36 am
The buzz about Hodgson is interesting. I have often thought that his performance in health has been less than stellar. One would have thought that with all the money being directed at health there would be more to show for it but with Ryall regularly taking Hodgson to task he has shown himself to be less than capable of getting the governments message across.
Having said that Health has always been a very tough portfolio. It can be a very emotive portfolio to handle as it deals with the most needy of our citizens and when it goes wrong, the fallout is usually spectacular and makes for great media coverage. TV footage of little 6 year old Jonny with Leukemia flying to Auckland or Christchurch for treatment because theres no doc in Wellington makes for great ratings and is very embarrasing for the Government.
So if the rumours are correct, who is next in line for the poisoned chalice? Goff is the heralds pick and would signify a more steady, less shrill approach to the portfolio, but Goff is the only candidate to replace Cullen in finance, which may have to be considered if Tax Cuts are to be announced next year if they are to have at least a veneer of credibility. But with health always being an election issue……….
Should be an interesting day……
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 8:42 am
yes… Helen in full covern-kit going tick-or-treating at her labour MP’s doors!
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 8:47 am
Isn’t Hodgson their electtion guru – they will need him `hands free’ to go flat knacker on the election for the next year.
This will be good for a change of Government because I see him as being like the barbers cat – all piss and wind.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 10:33 am
David Parker (Dunedin based list MP) isn’t mentioned in stories about possible contenders for Dunedin South. Does that mean he’s hoping Pete Hodgson will lose health and decide to retire so he (Parker) can contest Dunedin North?
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 11:06 am
Perhaps Parker doesn’t want to do anything as common as being an electorate MP.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Well Trev is safe and Damien is actually rewarded by having the troublesome Corrections portfolio taken away.
Mark Burton seems to be the real loser. Perhaps the EFB is a Fish & Chip wrapper.
Not a very significant shuffle.
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Cunliffe – Health
Dyson – MSD
Carter – Education
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10473176
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 12:38 pm
Or, the full account here, with a few of Helen’s excuses for a light reshuffle…
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=31156
Vote:October 31st, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Helen Clark said “I respect Steve’s decision to retire from politics and Mark’s decision to put all his energy into campaigning for re-election in his constituency.”
Pull the other one Helen – you’ve sacked Burton because he was a political liability – he’s goneburger in his revamped electorate, and obviously, won’t get a good list placing, as you seem to have kneecapped him.
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