Shearer may not have been best option for Labour - Garner

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 8:59a.m.

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3 News political editor Duncan Garner says David Shearer’s election to leader of the Labour Party is a direct result of a large amount of the party caucus disliking his only contender for the role, David Cunliffe.

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16 Dec 2011 08:24a.m.

Mike wrote:

Lets face it, Labour doesn't trust Cunliffe, and yet they expected NZ to support Cunliffe in charge of finance in the election? Cunliffe plays the loyal Labour member fine, but you can't trust what he says, hence the problem! He changes everything to suit the Labour party so there is no integrity in what he says. Ask a question and you dont get a honest answer, you get a Labour party statement not honesty. In many ways Cunliffes blind loyalty is his problem as hes too loyal and Labour will never trust him for it. Look back to say Prebble while he was Associate Finance Minister, loyally doing dirty work as directed for a similar person.

Cunliffe was on the team that helped direct our govt institutions like ACC/Kiwsaver invest in Maddoff so with abilities like that is it any wonder even Labour questions its own? Remember the ~$29 billion lost back pre 2008 election that Labour/Green forgot to tell NZ about? Cunliffe wasn't in charge, but like a good Labour member he had no trouble sweeping it all under the carpet and NZ doesn't need such a leader and I think Shearer has to be better than Cunliffe. We don't know yet, but even an unknown looks better than a party-liner who will keep their mouths shut when they lose almost $30 billion! Cunliffe strikes me as the type that if asked would paint any picture of NZ finances that he was directed, from spending billions on frigates and justifying it (remember Labour signed NZ up for 4x billion dollar frigates but no vests for the military that can stop AK rounds! And the Labour party extentsion to build another 8! Luckily no date set on when and hopefully its never)

Also, since Muldoon we haven't had a finance person/leader and anyone who undertakes Finance and Leads is asking for political fallout as its too much power in one person. Even now, while Keys has experience that could handle the finance portfolio, hes not that stuppid to hold finance and lead which Cunliffe appeared to be wanting to do!

15 Dec 2011 11:13a.m.

Evan wrote:

I don't think the Greens will have anything to cheer about with David Shearer's election, if the John Campbell interview was anything to go by. I got the impression that David Shearer wants Labour to govern alone - end of story.

15 Dec 2011 11:02a.m.

Memo wrote:

No it's not a matter of taking on John Key, it is the media he must convince. Already bias shadows Shearer as predicted! Cunliffe supporters succumbed to the media lets see how this plays out! A lot will depend on how things pan out with Winston and Hone...Winston wont be beaten down by a one line snipe...Hone surprisingly enough can string a good line together when he is of mind and might just surprise. Going to be interesting as they all shuffle their cards!