Kiwiblog

John Pagani blogs:

Give me a break.

“Interesting to be in a party where the leadership decide selections,” David Farrar says of David Parker’s decision to stand in Epsom, as if National’s selection of Paul Goldsmith wasn’t one of the worst leadership stitch-ups in the entirety of MMP.

I mean, he’s just shameless. I blogged when Goldsmith was selected that it made sense. But to then take the mickey and claim it was a local decision is bizarre. Goldsmith has been selected by party command  to throw the seat to former National MP John Banks, whose biography Goldsmith wrote. The locals wanted Bhatnagar.

John’s experience of political parties is limited. In the Alliance Jim Anderton decided everything. On the one occassion the rest of the party wanted a say, Jim stormed off in a huff and killed the party. Then in the Progressives Jim even named the party after him so he had full control.

In Labour, the head office had three votes on a seven person panel, and combined with the unions can decide most selections.

This is why John thinks that in National, the head office decided the Epsom selection. He can’t imagine a party where this is not possible.

In seats with membership under 900, the Regional Chair can have influence as they select some of the 60 delegates. But in a strong seat like Epsom, the 60+ local delegates are selected purely by the members in their branch meetings, and those delegates get 100% of the votes (the Regional Chair has a casting vote but not a deliberative vote).

Party members take their duties seriously as delegates. Unlike Labour where a union can bus in scores of “members” who have never attended a Labour Party meeting in their life, and have never even met the candidates, National has eligibility criteria. You must have been an individual member for at least a year, and more importantly you must have attended a Meet the Candidates meeting to be able to vote at the selection meeting.

On top of the formal MTC meetings, candidates generally will meet every delegate one on one in their house. To win a selection you need to spend weeks getting around all the delegates – some you may even meet two or three times as they question you on your beliefs, your experience, your ambitions.

I accept this is all alien to John, but it is how it works in the seats where National has membership of 900 or more.

Meanwhile NewstalkZB report:

Labour Party frontbencher David Parker’s to take a tilt at Epsom.

The list MP has confirmed he will be taking on National’s Paul Goldsmith and Act’s John Banks at the general election.

Now I am told nominations are still open. Yet the story treats Parker as if he is the confirmed candidate. That is because they know in Labour if the hierarchy support you, you will almost always win – their rules are written that way.

What is more interesting is that Parker is moving from Dunedin to Auckland. His relationship is part of it no doubt, but look at the politics.

If Goff loses, him and Annette will go. Parker and Street could well be the replacements. But Labour could not have a Leader from Dunedin and a Deputy from Nelson. Auckland is their stronghold, and where elections are won.

By moving to Auckland, Parker makes himself a far stronger contender for the leadership.

Also I should note that the blogs were first to say Parker would seek Epsom.

Congratulations to Simon Bridges who won a four way contest tonight to be National’s candidate for Tauranga. He won on the first ballot which is a good sign of the respect he holds.

Simon will be an excellent candidate, and work hard for Tauranga.

Craig Foss has noticed that Labour held a meeting this weekend to confirm Rick Barker as the Tukituki candidate, which is curious as he was announced as the candidate before Christmas. Did something happen?

There are rumours that some Labour MPs worried about losing their seats may announce they will go list only.

This could help explain why Labour has delayed its list ranking. Labour has a dilemma. If they give high list rankings to incumbent MPs, then they face having almost no new MPs enter Parliament.

Incidentally my list of candidates still has no names for Waikato and Tamaki for Labour. Anyone know if candidates have been named?  National is now just awaiting a Tauranga selection plus both major parties can do list only nominations.

Vernon Small in the Dominion Post has an article on issues regarding list ranking within National.

I believe the existing rules are very good. Regions rank all candidates from their region (including MPs), and then a National List Ranking Committee (with a majority elected by electorate delegates) combines them into a national list, making modifications as it sees fit.

I’m not a fan of any moves to exempt sitting MPs from the normal process or to guarantee in advance all MPs will be in safe list places.  I think it weakens the party to have less discretion over how the list is ranked. There is of course always a natural tension between the organisation and the caucus on these issues, but I have always felt that one of National’s real strengths over Labour has been a far more democratic candidate selection process, and not protecting incumbent MPs in list ranking, as Labour did in the last three elections. Part of why Labour is now facing problems is it left its rejuventation too late.

National has a proud history of trusting the collective wisdom of its members. If National had rules protecting incumbent MPs, then Brian Neeson instead of John Key would still be the MP for Helensville. Likewise Judith Collins and John Carter woud not be MPs.

MMP especially poses challenges for parties – not just in list ranking. You also have situations where List MPs and new candidates compete for new seats after boundaries are redrawn.  While Selwyn has eventually resulted in a very good outcome, I think there are lessons to be learnt there about not trying to scare people off from standing against an MP – it tends to be counter-productive.

Now having said all that, I don’t think any National MP will be or should be retiring against their will this election. Of the 48 MPs, five are retiring (Connell, Rich, Blumsky, Clarkson and Simich) so that will leave 43 incumbents. On current polls if National should get at least 55 MPs, so there should be at least 12 new MPs joining the Caucus. And there have been some excellent new candidates selected.