Will Smith return?
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:00 am by David FarrarAudrey Young writes at NZ Herald:
John Key’s reshuffle yesterday promoted Simon Bridges and Chris Tremain and leaves the way open for Nick Smith to come back if the Prime Minister deems he has been punished enough. …
Local Government and the job of shepherding through major reforms in the area designed by Dr Smith has been allocated to Primary Industries Minister David Carter.
But Mr Carter is one of the contenders for the position of Speaker to replace Lockwood Smith, who is earmarked for the role of High Commissioner to London this year.
If Mr Carter becomes Speaker, Dr Smith could be rehabilitated back into the ministry without much fuss.
As I see it, there’s four issues here, around whether Nick Smith might return to the ministry.
- Will John Key change his previous policy of not having former Ministers return to the ministry. The public get rather cynical if a resignation in fact turns out to be a temporary sin-bin. They know that in the real world if you resign your job, you don’t get it back in six months.
- David Carter may not become Speaker. As I understand it the three main contenders are David Carter, Anne Tolley and Maurice Williamson.
- What risk is there that if returned to the ministry, Nick may commit another judgement of error. Because if a PM returns a Minister to the ministry, and there is a further judgement of error – then the media and public will hold the Prime Minister responsible, not the Minister.
- Against the risks in (1) and (3) you balance the benefits of having an experienced and effective Minister back in the Cabinet.
It will be interesting to see what happens in due course.
April 3rd, 2012 at 11:08 am
The Fresh Prince of Nelson?
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 11:13 am
Anne Tolley as Speaker? Heaven forbid!
Williamson would probably be good.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 11:14 am
Nick Smith has been in politics long enough to be a low risk of a judgment error. However he does develop these obsessions. I have forgotten the details of debacle about his short term Deputy Leadership and that may cause the PM to pause and think hard.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 11:20 am
Like treaty claimants..you can bet ya bottom dollar smith will be back
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 11:22 am
Will Smith in Cabinet? He’s not even a New Zealander.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 11:32 am
Cool, another movie star buying up NZ realestate? As long as he does not have any chinese ancestors then people will be happy.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 12:00 pm
Nick tends to get into trouble through his willingness to help people. He had nothing to gain personally from the scrapes he has been in, apart from a super high majority in Nelson. I would argue his ‘sin’ was not as bad as Ruth Dyson (drink drive), therefore John should let him back in after a ‘cooling down’ period.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 12:43 pm
I doubt Will Smith has ever heard of Nick Smith; but he is returning in Men in Black 3.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 1:06 pm
Didn’t Phil Heatley return to Cabinet a few months after resigning?
It does not seem to me that Smith’s sin was so bad as to earn a lifetime ban. A yellow card seems more appropriate.
[DPF: Heatley was effectively cleared]
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Judgement of error? Hmmm thats a new ‘phrase of turn’ lol
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 1:45 pm
peterwn, I agree. However, David’s point that Key will wear any blunder Smith makes after returning is also strong. He can’t afford another “What on earth was he thinking?” moment.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 3:00 pm
If say Peter Dunne became speaker, how would he cast his vote? Would he have to stand up in the speaker’s chair and cast his vote when it’s voting time.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Smith has had his day. Pasture time for him. That the Nats don’t have another good contender says more about them than Smith.
Vote:April 3rd, 2012 at 5:38 pm
toad – Anne Tolley is pretty good at “speaking”, it’s the listening and understanding she has problems with!
Vote:April 4th, 2012 at 12:27 am
I can’t see Key really bringing Smith back – he’s getting on, and as DPF is fond of pointing out, renewal needs to start about now and continue. So why bring back someone who’s never moving up and is a risk. Give his job to someone newer and keener, and tell Smith that with his majority, he’s welcome to be backbencher for ever, otherwise he needs to go find a successor in Nelson.
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