Will Little stay in New Plymouth?
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:51 am by David FarrarA reader highlighted this story from July:
Mr Little joined the union as a lawyer in 1992 and was elected unopposed as national secretary in 2000.
His family lived in Wellington now, and although he planned to spend five days a week in New Plymouth campaigning, he would not move them there until he won the seat.
Would he move if he lost in the seat but was elected as a list MP?
“Not sure about that. I will gauge that closer to the time.”
Andrew is all but guaranteed to be an MP after the election. He could easily pledge to remain in New Plymouth. I don’t think locals will be overly impressed by someone who won’t commit to the region.
I suspect the reason Andrew won’t commit to New Plymouth, is because he will want to stand in Rongotai if there is a by-election after the general election.
Related posts:
- Little for New Plymouth
- Campaigning in Wellington for New Plymouth
- Little for New Plymouth?
- A little testy
August 22nd, 2011 at 8:00 am
An irrelevance here in NP. And I suspect will be treated as such.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 8:58 am
I predict this post will get about twenty responses – about as much interest as Little actually excites in NP.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 9:12 am
The ‘carpet bagging’ meme is still popular with Little. The good voters of New Plymouth won’t elect another carpet bagger – they already have one.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 9:17 am
This is the farce of so-called representation when modern technology allows us all to speak for ourselves. I am sure the people of New Plymouth know exactly how cynically they are being used and will decide whether that is a fair price to pay for more grim years of Labour – with another grim-faced leader.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 10:41 am
Ah mikenmild, nice try. Actually, the majority of people I talk to recognise a couple of things. Whilst its his first term, JY has picked things up carefully and has been working hard for the electorate. People want Little like they want syphillis – not so much. And that the country has been through a bloody hard time of it the last few years, and that JK et al have made a reasonable fist of it, despite us being a poxy little country in the middle of the South Pacific, at the mercy of much stronger winds.
And that labour are promoting borrowing more, despite berating National for borrowing. And seeking to complicate taxation yet again. Little is struggling hard to be relevant in NP, but I think its becuase he thinks he should, not because its what makes sense to be an electorate MP.
JY was shopping in Countdown out at the Valley on the weekend, with his family. Getting lots of nods and smiles from the mixed crew that shop there. Im sure its a well scripted opportunity to present the family image, but the reaction was telling. Say what you want about him, he is low profile but working hard. Little carries the union stigma – yes, its a real thing – and people in the provinces expect people to work hard. Oh, and I’m sure union leaders work very hard. You might have heard a derisive snort at that point…
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 11:05 am
no he won’t
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 11:17 am
The good folk of New Plymouth have a clear choice. They can put all their eggs in one basket and elect Little, who may or may not be a good electorate MP. But Little, as DPF notes will be in Parliament regardless, so they can vote for Jonathon Young who from all reports is a good constituency MP, and then spread the party vote to their preferred party. That way the may end up with two MP’s; although it is highly likely that Young will have a lot more time for New Plymouth that Little will.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 11:39 am
@Inv. How does NP end up with 2 MP’s if JY is the electorate MP and Little goes in on the list? No way will Little feel obliged to serve the people of NP; as is more likely he will stay put and wait for the Rongatai B/E as DPF surmises.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 11:55 am
The people in NP are no fools and no full well that Little offers nothing but mediocrity and failing socialism. He mos well pack his bags.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 12:11 pm
“I suspect the reason Andrew won’t commit to New Plymouth, is because he will want to stand in Rongotai if there is a by-election after the general election.”
I’d say that’s almost a certainty. In the course of my business life I dealt with many union representatives. Of them all, only one possessed what I perceived as elemental uprightness of character. Most came across as Little does, the self-interest transparent and very strong, virtually exuding from their pores. I can’t say whether Little’s on-screen persona is real or manufactured – body language of Labour types is almost always contradictory – but to judge from TV news clips, Little seems to feed on self-manufactured perceptions as to how he’s actually impacting on New Plymouth – a very poor basis for determining any sort of reality.
Little seems to place extra weight on his electoral chances from the fact of his high party office. He puts me very much in mind of Anderton and his expectations in the 90’s. But Anderton, with a business background, was almost unique in Labour’s ranks, and among the leagues of patent dreamers, he might have felt personal superiority.
Little, however, possesses no such discernment or justification.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 1:59 pm
I’d just like him to pay me for the wager he lost…almost three years ago!
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 2:11 pm
David, I suspect you may have to let that go. A man of honour would have paid his debt. I rest my case.
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 3:23 pm
Yes indeed sir…I am really just posting to embarrass him….but perhaps shame is as foreign to him as the obligation to honour ones bets….
Vote:August 22nd, 2011 at 4:00 pm
Im sorry, shame, standing for Labour, old three hats? David, wake up, you are seriously dreamin’…
Vote:August 23rd, 2011 at 7:47 am
At the risk of exciting mor than 20 reponses on this character – are we to infer that Little merely represents a wider ‘Labour Party malaise’ of thinking if you say it it makes it true – also known as taking voters for granted? Mind you under the present MMP that is not a hanging offence, now, is it?
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