'I am doing a good job' - David Shearer

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Shearer: 'I am doing a good job'

3News NZ

Labour leader David Shearer (file)

Labour leader David Shearer (file)

By Thomas Mead

Labour’s David Shearer has hit back at critics who claim his job is in jeopardy, saying he is doing a “good job” and there is no leadership challenge.

Rumours have been circulating in the blogosphere about his leadership being under threat, but Mr Shearer says they are just that: rumours.

The online debate, sparked by an opinion piece written by 3 News Political Editor Duncan Garner, targeted the Labour leader’s poor performance after a recent list of scandals in the National Government.

Garner called Mr Shearer a "stuttering, incoherent mess" and "the opposite of what an alternative Prime Minister should look like".

But this morning, Mr Shearer ruled out any in-fighting.

“There is no challenge so there is no issue,” he says. “It’s about bloggers talking with each other and I’m surprised others have been asking these questions.”

Under his watch, he claims Labour has climbed in the polls and eaten away at National’s five-year lead.

“I don’t think we have been sluggish. We’ve halved the gap between National and Labour in about 11 months and we are closer together than he have been in the last five years. That’s a good record and I’m pretty happy.”

Labour MPs are also ruling out a battle and are standing by Mr Shearer who took the leadership reigns in December last year.

“There’s absolutely no leadership challenge, the caucus is fully behind David Shearer,” says Chris Hipkins.

“We’re not a bunch of lemmings following the guy in the clown suit, people will test things and debate things but that’s what the Labour party does."

Clayton Cosgrove was unimpressed by the claims and told 3 News that blogs held little weight in the political landscape. 

“I think that Kiwis are probably more concerned as to whether they’re going to become one of John Key’s statistics,” he says.

Fellow Labour MPs Jacinda Ardern and David Cunliffe also voiced their support for Mr Shearer.

This weekend, Labour is having its annual conference with its members in Auckland where Mr Shearer is expected to unveil a number of new policies.

3 News

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Comments

13/11/2012 8:59:03 p.m.

SC wrote:

Shearer will work for the whole country and not just those who are left voters. The left will dominate next election, Shearer or not. If Shearer goes, the Greens will get my vote.

13/11/2012 5:16:58 p.m.

john wrote:

I like having david running labour, that means national safe. No matter who is in govt, they have no control over economy, as we are small fry. I think govt can only try to control effects of crisis, and so far have not seen or heard anything better come from other parties, yes things are still to get worse, but nz in better state than most others, un report just other day said nz had best grip on things at moment

13/11/2012 4:42:16 p.m.

Jamie wrote:

No your not haha

13/11/2012 2:33:03 p.m.

Kathy wrote:

Not big news really the right wing would be much more afraid of labour under a charismatic leader and there is plenty of new blood with potential to appear much more friendly and onto it than John Key. Or at least far more honest. National would tremble in its boots if Labour brought in a well known non party face that the people of New Zealand thought was more Honest than John Key and there are plenty of outside people that Labour could bring in to do the job. Then what do you have, someone the people love against someone the people now both hate as in John Key and John Banks. Though this is likely a whaleoil rumor, so not worth much at all. Whaleoil does this every few weeks when he feels a little bored. Right wing msiinformation designed to make the opposition look week, they need this rumor as they look weak in recent polls. Plus it helps people forget their more recent lies. Politics is about moving people off the current debate or topic if its hurting you like all of Nationals mistakes currently are.

13/11/2012 1:57:15 p.m.

Dan wrote:

Don't quite know where Labour is going to go from here. Interesting about the comment about lemmings. For lemmings to have to follow each other over a cliff, there has to be one out in front that all the rest follow.

13/11/2012 1:43:45 p.m.

joe wrote:

This country needs someone with vision and inspiration. Right now, the only person to get that from is Barak Obama as there is no-one in NZ. John Key is an incompetent clown, and David Shearer is a well meanining also-ran. Russell Norman is looking pretty good but he gets too many people worried about tree-hugging, while Winston is slowing down and seems less vocal than he used to be. That leaves the Maori Party, who are just John Key apologists, and Hone.... He's the only one with any fire in his belly! Out of all of them, Hone comes closest to being inspirational. Go Hone, and I'm not even Maori!

13/11/2012 1:08:25 p.m.

Mike B wrote:

You go David. Self praise is no recommendation. Have to agree with the comments here. National will be glad to see the support you have from your party, because that means no opposition to them. I for one can't wait for this weekend to see what "policies" are going to be unveiled. That will be a first.

13/11/2012 1:01:02 p.m.

Bruce wrote:

I believe Key has got far more chance on being overturned as National party leader after the next election than Shearer has got of being overturned as Labour Party leader before the next election.

13/11/2012 12:58:54 p.m.

Ernst wrote:

David Shearer looks like the kind of man I would be happy to have as a friend. I have never voted Labour but would respect him if he were our Prime Minister. A job he could do with presence and dignity. Look hard at yourselves Labour before you let him go.

13/11/2012 12:48:20 p.m.

Brad wrote:

Key will be delighted to hear the bumbling Labour leader is fighting on. The real leader of the opposition is Russell anyway.