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Keys weighs in on Labour leadership row

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Keys weighs in on Labour leadership row

3News NZ

Prime Minister John Key says the squabble is evidence that Labour was not fit to govern

Prime Minister John Key says the squabble is evidence that Labour was not fit to govern

By Laura McQuillan

The Greens will be a major beneficiary of the leadership debate that is consuming the Labour Party, says Prime Minister John Key.

Mr Key, speaking in Darwin on his way to the East Asia Summit in Cambodia, says the squabble is evidence that Labour was not fit to govern.

"Let's face it, the Labour Party can't even run a conference, how on earth could they run the country?

"What they're demonstrating is they just fundamentally do not like each other and it's no great surprise that a lot of New Zealanders don't like what they are doing," he said.

Labour will hold a caucus meeting tomorrow afternoon where leader David Shearer will seek a vote of confidence from his MPs in a bid to extinguish the threat posed by his rival David Cunliffe.

Mr Key told reporters on the fourth anniversary of National coming to office that regardless of the vote's outcome, Labour was struggling.

"I always treat whoever the leader of the opposition is with respect ... but the simple bottom line is if you go and have a party which is going to be internally consumed, which will be the case whoever wins, in the end it's a really bad news story for Labour.

"The only winner out of this will be [Greens leader] Russel Norman."

Mr Key wouldn't express a preference for either leadership contender, saying "either way, whoever's left standing is going to have a warring faction buried deep within their own party".

The leadership row has taken the gloss of Labour's $1.5 billion housing plan which aims to see 100,000 families assisted into their own home over the next 10 years and Mr Key says the plan lacks substance.

"The truth is that it's a very complex issue ... I don't think some fanciful concept is really going to fix the problem."

NZN

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28/11/2012 7:17:25 a.m.

Walsingham wrote:

"The truth is that it's a very complex issue ... I don't think some fanciful concept is really going to fix the problem." And it is the fancy boys who have put social reform issues ahead of the problems associated with housing, jobs, education and health! Key is right! The concept that will fix the problem hasn't appeared yet. Another natural disaster, civil unrest, corruption within the governing party or within the now complacent cabal currently assuming they control the Labour Party and eying the prizes for distribution. Some prizes though are brighter and jealousy, envy are only self serving to a smaller exclusive self destructive minority. Simple sad story. The tragedy is it doesn't have to be this way!

20/11/2012 7:25:53 p.m.

Ruz wrote:

Well Key is right with his observations. Cunliffe wouldn't have bothered to position himself as a threat to Shearer if he didn't think he could do a better job. And it's obvious that Shearer isn't cutting the mustard no matter how nice he might be as a person. Those Labour MPs who have backed Shearer have only done so for reasons of timimg. It would not surprise me if they turned against him once they realise they will lose the 2014 election and possibly lose support to NZ First and the Greens.

20/11/2012 3:00:40 p.m.

Greg wrote:

Leadership coups usually occur when a leader is on some junket out of the country. How many trips did Helen have in her last three years in office. Someone can do some research and count them. Shearer wont win the next election, but John well lose it if he marginalises any more of the voter population. I expect National to put a squeeze on the nurses next year under some reform policy. Ther've already tried it with the teachers.

20/11/2012 12:41:24 p.m.

Mark wrote:

Mind your own business Key. Helen Clark never interfered and gave an opinion on your leadership debacle with Bill English and Don Brash. Although hopefully its a distraction from you degrading the country.

20/11/2012 11:32:05 a.m.

jan.. wrote:

The Labour Party should stand together and not in parts like a chopped up live beef.

19/11/2012 11:35:03 p.m.

Jan wrote:

Yes, Key is right, the Conference was a real spectical, apart from that Shearer is more of a right wing politician, to keep the confidence of normal Labour supporters he needs to go back to the left, he is too close centre right that's why people are turning to the Greens although I guess Labour are not worrying about that as the Greens will get them in the position to govern - it will be a Red/Green Government in2014 regardless of who Labour's leader is.

19/11/2012 10:52:33 p.m.

John Smith wrote:

Key is crafty he stays out of the country as much as he can so he does not have to face the truth about him self,then he returns for a holiday then off again following in the shadows of Obama,and counts up his flying hours on his way back too his holiday home in NZ. Key is always against the Labour parties policies,but he has none himself other than stuff the country up more and more every time he opens his smart mouth of his.

19/11/2012 9:58:28 p.m.

Brad wrote:

Could not have said it better - why trust the running of country to a group that can't even run a conference. Absolutely spot on. Really little wonder why Labour languishes in the polls.

19/11/2012 9:48:03 p.m.

cyril wrote:

@bruce. Key will probably resign before he is rolled and he wont be rolled as long as he is a popular prime minister and when he is no longer popular national will be out and the next bunch of know it all fools will take over.

19/11/2012 8:43:28 p.m.

CG wrote:

@Brent: How about this for the Tui bill board?-- 'Key will be the PM after the next election'...Yeah, right!