Brendon Burns for Christchurch Central
NZPA report that Brendon Burns has been nominated for Christchurch Central for Labour.
Brendon is the former head of the Comms section in the PM’s Office, and has stood twice in Kaikoura where he used to edit the local newspaper.
He would be a useful addition to their Caucus with his political management background. However he might find life as a backbencher rather unfulfilling and would hope for a substantive role before long.
Not being a local, he may struggle to win the nomination. It will be interesting to see if James Caygill is also standing.
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Tags: Labour
November 13th, 2007 at 11:14 am
What is it about Christchurch that lets the Labour Party think it can just carpetbag there? Ruth Dyson, Mike Moore, Geoffrey Palmer, Jim Anderton, Clayton Cosgrove… none of them were actually natives. Don’t they have any decent people of their own down there?
November 13th, 2007 at 11:26 am
Another “In the Service of the Crown” proposing a disservice, by seeking to be one of our many masters. They all have one thing in common with all of us Joe Bloggs – We are all subject to the Crimes Act 1961, but don’t have the Solicitor=General to protect us.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:39 am
DPF said:
He would be a useful addition to their Caucus with his political management background. However he might find life as a backbencher rather unfulfilling and would hope for a substantive role before long.
My bet is he’ll become Minister of Propaganda. He’s certainly well qualified!
November 13th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
Erin Ebborn-Gillespie is definately standing and Megan Woods (mayoral candidate and formerly of the Progressives) is, apparently, considering it. Erin has been involved heavily at an electorate level in Chch which would be to her advantage although I suspect it will be a hotly contested seat.
James Caygill needs to stop living on family history and switch the right where he belongs!!
November 13th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Burns is a pompous tosser with a complete disregard for anyone who can’t help him realise his goal of slopping at the government trough. A perfect Labour candidate.
November 13th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
BB must be a really popular guy, 4 posts in 2 hours-wow- mind you after last week I guess the site needs a breather. Wait till question time today.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Is this the guy that had the nick name the Burns Unit a while back.
More Socialist cannon fodder for 08.
November 13th, 2007 at 2:38 pm
David,
OT: what has happened to your links?
[DPF: They are generated by Bloglines, reflecting my RSS subscriptions. Bloglines is down so the links disappear while they are]
November 13th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
I knew the pressure was too much for Tim Barnett , typical back peddler when the tough gets going .
Burns is a disgrace to the name . Labour will lose Ch Ch Central, as the party is over bozo Brendan ; lots of love Peter Burns !!
November 13th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Living in Chch I actually think Megan Woods will get it. She ran a reasonably nasty campaign here for mayoralty and was funded through it by the Labour party. Though given she is not a trade unionist, maori, gay or has ever worked in Parliament for Labour some may say she is a pretty long shot…
Must be careful on the carpet bagger route. Quiet a few Nats have done the same. Try Brian Connell for one…gee that was successful…there are other seats in the south island labour far more likely to lose in my opinion than chch central.
November 13th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Go Nikki Wagner. Solid Mp – good links to the community to unseat Labour from this apparently most “safe” of seats.
November 13th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I agree good lady. Great fashion sense too.
And definitely not one of the fractional minority maori, PI, gay, worked for Labour or trade unionist groups.
Actually here is a poll for 10 can anyone actually name a Labour MP who does not meet one of those boxes? I am struggling to think of one.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
It is interesting that all the wonderful Labour Folks are coming out of the woodwork, A Failed Councilor,( Ingrid Stonhill) A Failed Mayoral Candidate( Megan Woods) a Couple of ex Beehive Staffers ( Burns, yes he of the Burns Media Unit, and Caygill ) any more.
And in the Blue Corner Nicky Wagner who has worked very hard to build community links. I feel that CHCH Central should not be seen as a Safe Labour Seat like a Rotten Borough of old but a seat that is in play and worth watching.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
horis
Helen Clark – doesn’t list any union roles (maybe NZUSA) and doesn;t fit any others
November 13th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Insider:
You couldn’t be more wrong. Helen Clark is a perfect matched for Horisthebear’s “worked for Labour” category:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark
November 13th, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I’d like to see Helen Clark Burn for democracy….
November 13th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Lee C – wouldn’t we all mate, wouldn’t we all!
November 13th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
BlairM
Clayton Cosgrove was born and raised in Chch – went to St Bedes College (where ironically Gerry Brownlee was one of his teachers). He was a Labour activist for Mike Moore at age 14. There would be as many carpetbaggers on both sides of the political fence as MPs for Wellington and Auckland seats over the years but in those cities its not considered a crime to have moved from somewhere else. No-carpetbagging as a cause for social rejection is a rather unique Canterbury institution. A wit once said – In Auckland they ask you “How much money do you make?”, in Wellington they ask “Where do you work?” and in Christchurch they still ask “What school did you go to?”
November 13th, 2007 at 8:05 pm
KIA – other Christchurch question “What ship did your ancestors arrive on?”
November 13th, 2007 at 8:19 pm
And , what ship your ancestors came on makes all the difference in Canterbury ? Give it a boot Robbie and Jocko , pass the ball candy boys as a mad white trash Irishman wants your pc English silver spoon arse, because he is rather irate about matters in kiwiland !
November 13th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
In Levin they ask “are you sure you’re 16?”
November 14th, 2007 at 8:56 am
POC
She’ the labour PM for effing sake – of course she has had an involvement with Labour. How is that either unusual or unexpected?
What she hasn’t done is been a full time Labour staffer or parliamentary worker or union official, which was the context because under discussion were two former parliamentary policy advisers running for a seat nomination. SHe has of course been a teacher (of sorts) which is another key qual needed for a Labour MP
November 14th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
KiA, my bad, I was only reading the Wikipedia entry which has him as a native of Nelson.