Is Jones jumping?
May 31st, 2012 at 12:07 pm by David FarrarWhale Oil blogs:
The tipline has been humming this morning with news about Shane Jones.
Several sources have confirmed that he is not happy with David Shearer for throwing him under the bus…the word is he even dropped the C-bomb in terse discussions with Shearer. He is set to announce his exit rather than wait around for up to year while the Auditor-General peers into his affairs as a minister.
Important to stress this is not verified, but I don’t think it is a surprise that Jones would be unhappy with what Shearer has done, considering that when the issue first arose Helen Clark refused to take any action at all. He would be thinking, why is there an inquiry three and a half years later?
UPDATE: I understand that one detail is not quite correct. It seems that Jones did not use the C word in the meeting with his Leader, but he used it afterwards in talking to other MPs about his leader!
Related posts:
- Shearer shafts Jones
- Jones, Carter & Cunliffe
- Ririnui endorses Jones for Leader
- Maori MPs on Shane Jones
May 31st, 2012 at 12:16 pm
And gone is one of the sensible ones.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:17 pm
popcorn, stat!
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:19 pm
The reason is we now have a Nat Gumint instead of the corrupt Klark/Kullen cabal.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Jones has an inflated idea of his own importance. He did very well out of the Fisheries Commission (double dipped as I recall); being an MP was one thing but being an MP without cabinet status (and perks) would be intolerable. I expect him to jump ship before the AG digs up some smelly stuff.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:36 pm
the word is he even dropped the C-bomb in terse discussions
Talking about yourself in the third-person is an early sign of mental illness.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:39 pm
That’d be a relief for Labour, Jones long ago squandered any potential he had.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Be interesting to see if he does, which way will he jump? Mana comes to mind…
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:41 pm
“why is there an inquiry three and a half years later?”
I’ll tell him why…cos a crime has been committed and it wont be swept under the carpet. Its called a-c-c-o-u-n-t-a-b-i-l-i-t-y for ones actions jones. Another corrupt liarbor statistic…good riddance.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:41 pm
If it’s bad news for Labour, it’s good news for the rest of us.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:51 pm
@Northland Wahine:
Since he’s a Labour list MP, I expect he will jump out of politics. I also don’t think he would join Harawira’s troupe – He’s not that far left, as far as I can tell. I think he’s pretty centrist policy-wise. I was told he supported VSM even.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:54 pm
It’s interesting that Jones’ new seat in the House has him right behind Winston Peters; the next NZ First leader, perhaps?
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Good point Joel… He seems more on friendly terms with Hone than Turia.
And KS… I find that possibility…quite unnerving.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Any options on I-Predict??
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:03 pm
Knowing of his taste in entertainment, the C-word probably comes to his mind rather fast.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:08 pm
@ Orewa; Comment of the Week
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I can’t see Shane Jones in Mana, he’s never struck me as quite that crazy.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:12 pm
He is being a bit harsh on Shearer. The only reason there is an enquiry is the nature of the evidence which was given in a court case one week ago, not three years ago.
If he goes, who comes in on the list? That’s the question.
Just seen the answer. Another horse faced useless union hack. Beaumont.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:14 pm
As I understand, it is Carol Beaumont who will enter via the list.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:18 pm
If there is any foundation to this speculation it can only benefit Shearer’s leadership. I don’t think DPF’s suggestion of Jones wondering why there is an inquiry 3 years later comes into it, Jones would understand that the AG’s inquiry is in the broader interest of the electorate and his own party.
Vote:It also shows a distinction between the past and current leadership. Shearer is making his own way and that is good for NZ politics.
May 31st, 2012 at 1:27 pm
I agree with your last point Nostalgia, but if Jones walks, Team Shearer falls by one, and if Carol Beaumont returns, Team Cunliffe will grow by one; how big was the margin in December?
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:41 pm
What is c-bomb. Yes jones would make a good leader of Nzf. The labour party were never that fussed on him. Jones probably thinks he was doing his duty now he is bring stabbed in the back.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:41 pm
Hang on, hang on … we’re seriously discussing something that Cam Slater alleges he’s been told on his “tipline”?
I think DPF’s “Important to stress this is not verified” warning needs upgraded by a margin of, oh, let’s say several million.
[DPF: While still not verified, I've also heard that Jones has been openly talking of his upset, and that he is looking for office space in Whangarei - so let's just wait and see]
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Jones would never jump to Mana despite Hone being his relation; nor would he go Maori Party given his main intent has been slamming them since he came into office. He would be hitting up his old contacts now I think about finding a cushy job with a large pay packet I imagine. His political ambitions are shot and he has no powerbase in the north (i.e. at iwi level) as far as I am aware. Its a shame as he is not without talent but he has squandered that himself.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@ AG – Labour Party blogger Robert Winter is also blogging about it; he is very well connected in Party and union circles:
http://robertwinter.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/will-mr-jones-jump-ship.html
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:56 pm
@KS – sure … Jones himself was pretty non-committal on Morning Report last week about what he might do. So I’m quite prepared to accept that, as a matter of fact, Jones may walk.
But if you’re asking me to believe that Cam Slater has access to inside information from within the Labour Party about how Jones is reacting to the AG’s decision to investigate … well, I ain’t buying it. Or, rather, I’m as prepared to buy it as I am to believe that Trevor Mallard has got secret emails revealing Judith Collin’s involvement in leaking Bronwyn Pullar’s name to the media.
[DPF: The info may not be from within Labour. It is possible Jones has told people outside Labour of what happened]
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Why would Jones stay? He has shat in his nest once too many times and can get probably 3 times the pay packet “working” in Te Tiriti industry. With the fishing industry due for a shakeup with the rebadging of the boats there will be plenty to do.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Keeping Stock
1.27
That’s the risk he takes to stamp his own mark on the party. The greater risk was not being seen as a decisive leader able to win an election? You probably won’t agree, but I like the honesty part it shows.
Of course the other side is the comparison with JK who is happy to have a minister without a memory, whilst Shearer did not sweep aside events that happened before he was leader. I think Shearer is beginning to make a mark after Labour has been adrift for many years.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Yes, he’s a jumping and a rumping and a pumping …….in a hotel room with our credit cards…….
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Jones is a List Member and if he stands down, will he not be replaced by the next person on the Labour List?
Or is a List Member remaining in Parliament to be anything other than he was sworn in to be, still one of those itsy bitsy little gliches they are looking at fixing?
tvb – What is c-bomb.
Vote:It relates to the ‘c-word’ which is ‘Cam’, as in Cam Slater, and relates to a blog where the fickle finger of Fate having writ,
has flit.
See – self-fulfilling prophesy
May 31st, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Nostalgia-NZ (974) you’re wrong. He defended him at first and then looked like a fool when he had to back track. Shearer is still unimpressive and he just seems to drift along with no direction or conviction. When he interviews he just brings up lines about ‘export led growth’ blah blah blah but he can’t actually explain how Labour would achieve it. I reckon his interviews would be a great cure for insomnia. He does seem like a nice guy but that will only get him so far in politics. He needs to grow a pair and fast.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 2:30 pm
What a wanker. No really – he is a wanker.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 2:35 pm
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/shane-jones-inquiry-go-ahead-says-auditor-general-rh-120028#comment-402470
When is the OAG going to focus on the underpinning problem and start advocating for an ENFORCEABLE ‘Code of Conduct’ for all NZ MPs?
And support a Register of Lobbyists and Code of Conduct for Lobbyists?
(And a NZ Independent Commission Against Corruption?)
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Cunningham
2.24
He didn’t backtrack, he made the right decision in the circumstances.
Vote:He didn’t have to ask for AG inquiry, and he didn’t have to stand Jones down. Maybe he could have appeared a bit more ruthless, but the effect is the same – he kicked Jonesboy to touch and it’s now Jones decision to either stay in the party or go.
May 31st, 2012 at 5:17 pm
Perhaps he may seek work with Peter Jackson, apparently he knows a lot about movies.
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 5:22 pm
C bomb must mean Carol Beamont
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Yvette 2:12 ???
Vote:May 31st, 2012 at 5:39 pm
COWS4ME: that is bloody good sir!! one of the reasons I enjoy kiwiblog so much…
Vote:June 1st, 2012 at 4:32 am
Jones is on record as being obsessed with ‘c’. So it’s bound to crop up n conversation.
Vote:June 1st, 2012 at 11:29 am
Geddis being an ignorant prick again, again.
Vote:June 19th, 2012 at 8:34 am
Jones should join winston and eventually take over the party. Now that would be interesting.
Vote: