Labour’s reshuffle
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:33 pm by David FarrarDetails from tweets (and now the release) are:
- Grant Robertson picks up Health and moves to front bench
- Darren Hughes gets education
- Trevor Mallard Shadow Leader of the House and Associate Finance
- Shane Jones moves to No 13, but only has Associate Maori Affairs, plus Transport, Infrastructure & Fisheries
- Dyson stays No 5, gets conservation, state services and immigration
- Parker moves to No 4
- Chauvel & Moronery move up rankings
- Sio gets Pacific Island Affairs
- Twyford gets Local Government
- Ardern gets Employment
- Shearer, Nash, Fenton, Hipkins, Davis and Burns get rankings
The Robertson move is the best part of the reshuffle. Tony Ryall will have a more challenging time with Grant against him. Health is traditionally a strong area for Labour, and the fact they have performed so dismally in this area has to change, for them to be competitive. It also marks the high regard Robertson is held in, to get it in just two years. He is a future Labour Prime Minister in my opinion.
Darren replacing Trevor in Education is also a good move. Trevor has all the union and teacher links, but his public persona is bad, and seen as part of the past. Darren will bring a more friendly image, and being young in this portfolio is not a bad thing.
Jones has a chance to redeem himself. He is very talented but notoriously lazy also – if he wants to be Leader, he now has to put in the hard work in his portfolios.
Mallard has basically been the de facto Shadow Leader anyway, so no real change there.
With Ruth Dyson, I can’t do better the copy Danyl Mc”s tweet: “Not enough liquid nitrogen in Thorndon to remove Dyson from front bench”
Goff has made a mistake in keeping Dyson on. While what he has done is generally good, it doesn’t go far enough. The front bench is still comprised of all Clark era Ministers with the sole exception being Grant – who instead was in the PMs Office. But the reality is Goff’s leadership is not strong enough that he could denote Dyson.
Parker going up to No 4 reflects performance. And if Labour loses the next election, I would expect Parker to move to No 2 or 3 and be Finance Spokesperson., with Cunliffe as Leader.
Annoyingly Labour have not put out a full list of portfolios and rankings, so can’t comment in detail on the other moves.
Overall Goff gets positive marks for the reshuffle – the new lineup will put more pressure on National. But I don’t think it will be a circuit breaker in its attempts to reconnect with the public.
Tags: Labour
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:42 pm
I am the public.
I can’t even find the circuit breaker.
Tell me again where the dynamic change is again.
Oh…. Robertson brought in.
yawn…… back to sleep.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Get real.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 12:43 pm
Before I sleep though……
Personally I think Goff should have made a quick phone call to the USA.
Vote:I think Bubbles is still looking for a new home.
He would have fitted in just nicely on that front bench.
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:46 pm
No a very inspiring lot really – despite the juggle.
Grunty must move up seriously towards leadership – even a close as after the election, with Maryann as deputy. Looks lovely rainbow colour to me – must be Labour Party.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 12:50 pm
“Big losers” according to Stuff:
MP Ruth Dyson drops from 4th to 5th
Lianne Dalziel drops from 13th to 15th
Parekura Horomia drops from 5th to 10th
It’s hard to be overwhelmed by the boldness.
No sign of Andrew Little in there, he might have to wait until he gets into parliament for that too.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 12:51 pm
No promotion for Chris Carter then
Vote:Thought he may have been made deputy dog.
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Horomia has never dropped anything.
Vote:Please tell me, why the fuck did Goff seriously bother?
Is he that desperate for a bit of media attention?
Tit for tat???
Key gets on tele so I must too?
Key has a press conference, I must too??
I give up.
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:56 pm
Jones notoriously lazy……..
Not when it comes to making claims on the taxpayer, these fellows are on the ball when it comes to expenses.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
The purpose of this reshuffle (and much else) is not to help win the November election. It is to help win the December election – for the Labour leadership.
His strategy is not to win over the middle NZ people who decide elections but to stoke up the base: this minimises the chances of an electoral calamity aka Bill English in 2002, and buys support from the hardliners in the party faithful and caucus.
He preseves the old guard in the hope they will then preserve him – because they know that a new leader will probably have a more ruthless clearout.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 1:32 pm
@PDF
It might not be on their website, but there is a PR with the full rankings out
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1102/S00048/labour-caucus-2011.htm
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Don’t know about Darren Hughes. As party whip he seems to have embraced the nasty aspects of being a Labour MP fairly enthusiastically
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 1:46 pm
“Health is traditionally a strong area for Labour,”
You must mean the support of the health unions is a strong area for labour; support that was richly rewarded under the Clark regime.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 1:48 pm
David had a real liking to Robertson .. he has an awful public persona (and yes, boring) as does Parker the fidget. Dyson should have gone to the backbench with horomia
Vote:It didn’t matter what Gaffe did as the MP’s he has available are, with the odd exception, weak and should be allowed to run this counrty
February 3rd, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Grant Robertson is such a star (yeah right) that he will lose Wellington Central in November. National won the party vote in 2008 and on current polling just another 300 Labour voters need to choose the National candidate. Hope they get a great candidate.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Judith Collins is the real winner
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Lets face it, Goff doesn’t have much material to work with. I understand all hell would have broken loose had Dyson been pushed too far from the adults’ table.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Perhaps if they all dye their hair we could be fooled into thinking anything has changed.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 2:31 pm
I wonder if he phone orders his porn in or walks to collect it. I guess he uses the phone (that we also pay for).
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 2:42 pm
s.russell@1:10 has got it spot on.
Survival at any cost.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 2:58 pm
“Personally I think Goff should have made a quick phone call to the USA.”
Maybe he did. It seems that you do not have to be homosexual to get ahead in the Labour Party but it certainly helps.
Nothing has changed. It looks like Goff will not be having another BBQ at his place again.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Is there any suggestion that Mallard, as Shadow Leader (heh) of the House, will spend more time in it and less time getting chucked out?
Will Ardern’s experience as not ever having had a real job stand her in good stead in Employment? Does she get a brain to go with her new responsibility?
Why didn’t Jones get the Arts?
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Three highlights:
* Parekura isn’t going anywhere any time soon
* Clare Curran ranks only one place higher than Ashraf Choudary
* Carmel Sepuloni ranks higher only than Kris Fa’afoi and the three retirees
Goff has missed a trick today; Labour’s “face” at this election will be much the same one that the electorate kicked sand in in 2008.
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2011/02/labours-reshuffle.html
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 3:31 pm
So on Mr. Goff……
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4613307/John-Key-and-Phil-Goff-hot-or-not
I won’t ruin the outcome for you, most amusing
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 3:32 pm
Invt2, don’t you mean Parekura isn’t moving anytime fast?
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Could you move him?
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 3:46 pm
IV2
Dunno if Goff missed a trick really, I suspect it has more to do with him having no power base.
As much as he might have loved to get rid of Dyson the feminazi would never allow it.
Goff is fucked either way.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 3:52 pm
300 votes? Polling. What are you on?
Grant’s majority was 1,904. He’ll at least double that this election. Happy to make that a firm public wager if you’d like?
Only the ridiculously partisan could fail to realise Grant’s ability.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 4:07 pm
***Will Ardern’s experience as not ever having had a real job stand her in good stead in Employment? Does she get a brain to go with her new responsibility?***
Ardern has a brain, but unfortunately she is a socialist.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Screw the re-shuffle, Goofy needs a new deck!
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 4:35 pm
Good luck to Shane Jones. The trick is to have a firm grip on your portfolios and keep up a good pace throughout.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 4:39 pm
A Liarbore reshuffle involves spinning a bottle of Chardonnay on the bar with cards placed in a circle that contain job descriptions. Seriously, what a load of horseshit, it’s the same old dropkicks and drongos, they just have a new job they can fuck up.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 7:36 pm
Taking Dyson and Mallard out of “front-line” roles will help soften the face of Labour.
My predictions for the election, and how MMP is just a cluster-fuck:
National will poll higher than the 2008 election, probably 50% as a result of ACT disintegrating, and United Future not registering, 43 electorate seats and 17 list seats. 60 seats total. No coalition partners.
Hyde will lose Epsom to National.
Peters will score above 5%. 3-5 seats. Will pick up votes from ACT, the ageing population with poor memories, and right-wing tactical voters.
Greens will score just above 5%. Another coalition partner to Labour. 8-9 seats.
United Future no seats.
Labour 43 seats last election, 41-43 this time, plus Jim’s seat, so say 44.
Maori Party’s 5 seats may hold the balance of power – depending on if they splinter now or not.
I’m afraid the November election will be a joke – National will get the majority vote, but the country will be governed by a centre-left splinter group of fuck-wits.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Just one thing David: A circuit breaker is not what is required to reconnect anything
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 8:31 pm
interesting noskire .. will Anderton still pull the pin this year???????????????????????
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 8:45 pm
jaba, he announced he will retire at the 2011 election, although the scenario I put above may “persuade” him to continue to serve his electorate…
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 8:49 pm
@ Noskire: Surely if that became reality it would be a blessing in disguise as the public watching that pathetic bunch govern the country would ensure they got rid of them, permanently (as in never vote them in again), at the soonest opportuntiy that would present itself (probably within months of winning).
It’s pity Goofy didn’t have the balls to severly demote the ‘parasites’ (intellectual former activists from the radical days etc) who have bastardised the Labour Party trying to make it into their own mould. Sure he would have gone down in flames at some point (with the daggers coming out), but at least he would be rebuilding a Labour Party for the future that is more relevant to modern NZ life.
Meethinks Goof’s ego has got the better of him, he probably thinks he’s so intellectually superior to JK that he refuses to give up thinking he could be better than JK (by winning the election and thus a place in NZ’ers hearts – like JK has), so will do anything to remain in power (instead of making the sacrifice and kicking out his generation) for a future, positive Labour Govt more in tune with everyday NZ’ers.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 8:53 pm
… mind you, no chance of that anyway I suppose, thanks to the next lot of irrelevants on their List.
Long live MMP and Party’s like Labour hand-picking their List behind closed doors by the will of the old guard, rather than the will of their supporters or “primaries”.
C’Ya Labour. 
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 9:18 pm
@niggly, Kiwi’s tend to be an apathetic bunch. If it was a choice between going to the pub, or making your vote, publicans would win. It’s difficult to picture mobs storming Parliament House screaming for a change in Government, especially if it was centre-left.
Goff’s problem is he’s in the wrong party, and the wrong decade. I wouldn’t be surprised if JK offered him Foreign Affairs if he jumped ship.
Messier problems will present themselves for Goff after 26 November, i.e Peters will want Deputy PM.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Winnie’s been deputy PM before …. wouldn’t he want to try something new and boost his ego …. and demand to be the “Co-Prime Minister” with Goofy?
If so, he won’t last long … Maryan Street will have the knife out for him.
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 11:05 pm
Oh fuck it, on current polling this would be a bit like United Futures’ re-arrangment of the deck chairs, if they had more than one. Serriously, who gives a shit about Labour?
Vote:February 3rd, 2011 at 11:56 pm
If Grant is the future leader of Labour then we really should be looking more closely at this fulla before we accept him as a potential PM. I heard he is extremely talented… at being a prize twat.
Vote:February 4th, 2011 at 12:22 am
Clint, I’ve heard he is pretty good at rimming tho. Labour … pffft
Vote:February 4th, 2011 at 10:50 am
“Good luck to Shane Jones. The trick is to have a firm grip on your portfolios and keep up a good pace throughout.”
Ha! Very good
Vote: