David Shearer ponders caucus reshuffle

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Shearer ponders caucus reshuffle

3News NZ

David Shearer appeared on TV3's The Nation this morning (file)

David Shearer appeared on TV3's The Nation this morning (file)

Labour leader David Shearer says he will take time to reshuffle his caucus after David Cunliffe was demoted last week.

Mr Cunliffe, the opposition party's fifth-ranked MP and the spokesman for economic development, was stripped of his portfolios and banished to the back bench after undermining Mr Shearer's position at Labour's annual conference last weekend.

Mr Shearer told TV3's The Nation programme today that he would chat to caucus members in the next few days and "see where they think their talents are best used".

He said he was not in any great hurry to reshuffle the caucus.

"I'll take it in my own time and I'll do it in my own way," he said.

He said Mr Cunliffe was talented but he needed to "put his head down and work for the team".

"I would love to have him in a higher position and that door is certainly open to him."

The leadership issues detracted from a housing policy announcement at the conference.

"The big issue about what I was putting forward in my speech at the conference was very much about if you are going to be in government you have to be a hands-on government.

"It is no good anymore being hands off - leave it to the market," Mr Shearer said.

NZN

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Comments

26/11/2012 4:49:14 p.m.

Antony Cotton wrote:

To Much deadwood in the Caucus Here would be my frontbench take Cunliffe Out Shearer Robertson Tertiary Education Parker Finance Cosgrove Economic Development Ardern Social Development Moroney Education Hipkins State Services Galloway Defence Mackey Local Government and Damien o Connor Health and Agriculture get rid of Street Sio and Mahuta all terrible performs and put that Old King Mallard and Goff to the Backbench as well.

25/11/2012 11:42:03 a.m.

Caleb wrote:

It's funny how Shearer downplays the idea that Horomia or Moroney have done anything wrong, when they did the exact same thing that was supposedly "disloyalty" and worthy of demotion when Cunliffe did it... didn't state what way they would vote in an anonymous vote in three months' time. The mainstream media coverage of this whole fiasco has been atrocious. The commentary and discussion in the blogosphere by the bloggers on The Standard, Tumeke, No Right Turn, as well as Brian Edwards, Gordon Copeland and other bloggers, has been far deeper, far more intelligent, far more interesting, far subtler and far less scandal-mongering than the tabloid-style mainstream media coverage (and not all blogging is anonymous or critical or vitriolic either). Shearer is out of touch by not reading, or even understanding, blogs.

25/11/2012 12:13:05 a.m.

Fern wrote:

If people are no longer allowed to express their genuine views on The Standard and engage in healthy debate, if we're all supposed to toe the party line, then the Labour Party is no better than a totalitarian state, and no better than the National party. A democracy that allows for an open contest of ideas is the lifeblood of a decent society and left-wing parties. What media hacks like Garner and Gower fail to grasp - because they can only view the world through pro-establishment spectacles - is that the Labour Party is at its healthiest when people are engaged with the issues and actually WANT to debate them - people who can't think for themselves and prefer to be told what to do should pledge an oath of lifetime allegiance to the National Party, the party of sheeple. The vast majority of Labour Party supporters want Cunliffe to be the party's leader, not Shearer, it's that simple. Who gives a stuff what old guard MPs like Mallard and Hipkins want, they're only there because we elected them to office, but we can punish them for failing to respect our wishes. Laboour caucus: you're on your final warning! We've suffered enough betrayal from you since 1984, so shape up or ship out!

24/11/2012 10:07:58 p.m.

CG wrote:

Here is the required MAIN line up with some portfolios: [1] David Shearer-Leader [2] David Cunliffe-Deputy leader-Minister of Finance [3] Grant Robertson-Whip,Minority interests & Spokesperson [4] David Parker-Economic Developmnt/Justice [5] Andrew Little-Labour [6] Phil Goff-Foreign Affairs [7] Annette King-Health [8]Charles Chauvel-Attorney General [9] Sue Morony-Education [10] Lees Galloway- Defense [11] Mallard-Sports,Transport.Leader of House [12] Horomia-Maori Affairs [13]Cosgrove- SOE,Trade [14]Shane Jones-Fisheries [15]Lianne Dalziel-Civil Defence. [16]Su'a William SioSio-Pacific issues [17]Arden-Women's affairs [18]Clare Curren-Media and Technology [19]Phil Twyford-Environment & City issues [20]Nanaia Mahuta-Associate Education,Maori Affairs [21]Chris Hipkins-State Services.

24/11/2012 8:48:17 p.m.

stella wrote:

Shearer should just shuffle himself
out to the labour leadership and let
the people decide who is to be the leader of labour,he is not up to the job,the cunliffe demotion showed his ineptitude.

24/11/2012 5:44:30 p.m.

john Lambert wrote:

the labour leader needs to be changed with a new and young leader who has new focus to go to the next election ,and to be elcted for the next goverment.

24/11/2012 4:47:21 p.m.

Sosoome wrote:

This guy doesn't know whether he is coming or going? First he tells David Cunliffe to go away and hide and now he saying he wants him back? AND David Shearer wants to Prime Minster - over my dead body!

24/11/2012 3:27:15 p.m.

Chris wrote:

Labour really are doomed. Shearer has proven to be a poor choice. He is not a good communicator and he is not a dynamic leader like H. Clark. Recent interviews show him mumbling and bumbling and at the new housing policy opening he lacked facts and looked very uneasy. The rank and file dislike him as he is too centralist. Cunliff is intelligent and a better communicator but he is disliked amongst the general voting public, he comes across and smug and smarmy. Roberston is gay and middle NZ are not ready for a gay PM. Little is a strong unionist and lacks any charisma. There really is no one else that is a clear candidate for leader esp. within 2 years. That along with deep ideological divisions, fractions and resentments mean Labour will be again relegated to the back benches. This of course is a good thing as it was Labour's socialist engineering and PC agenda over the decades that has caused NZ financial and moral decline. Labour really need an enema

24/11/2012 2:48:30 p.m.

Antony Cotton wrote:

Shearer needs to get rid of Dead Wood Like Goff King and Mallard if he is to have any chance of Labour winning Power in 2014. There have also been under Performs like Maryan Street and Nanaia Mahuta and William Sio drop them and bring Moana Mackey Sue Moroney and Ian Lees Galloway. At the Moment Labour is living in the past and will not get my vote in 2014. I will vote for National to be a elected into Government in 2014.

24/11/2012 11:25:52 a.m.

alison wrote:

Probably a good thing this Cunnliffe distraction for the housing announcement with dodgy numbers.