Purge of old Labour
Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 8:59 PM | Permalink
Speculation has resurfaced that Labour will seek to emulate National's intake of new faces by purging backbenchers who failed to win their electorate seat. Former Labour staffer Mark Blackham has predicted that Russell Fairbrother, Dianne Yates and Jim Sutton would be gone by the end of the year. Others rumoured to be on the hit-list include Jill Pettis and Ann Hartley.
In a move unprecedented in living memory, the Labour hierarchy is organising a major revitalisation of its Parliamentary ranks. It is planning to secure this year the resignation from Parliament of a swag of its list MPs. The electoral rules then offer the free places to the next people on Labour's original election Party list.
Labour cannot actually do this without the agreement of the MPs in question, so all manner of inducements and sticks are being tried. Likely roles include chairing boards and overseas foreign affairs postings.
It is clear that Labour's intake from the last couple of elections is not enough to succeed the current leadership, recent cabinet promotions such as David Benson-Pope, David Parker and David Cunliffe have proved liabilities as much as assets.
National conducted a painful and traumatic renewal prior to the 2002 election but the payoff is showing: Don Brash and John Key in control with the path clear for performing newcomers such as Jonathon Coleman, Mark Blumsky, Chester Borrows and Chris Finlayson.
Helen Clark has long traded stability and loyalty for talent and fresh faces; in fact it has been a key ingredient of the Fifth Labour Government's success. But nothing lasts forever.
Tags: Labour disunity
In a move unprecedented in living memory, the Labour hierarchy is organising a major revitalisation of its Parliamentary ranks. It is planning to secure this year the resignation from Parliament of a swag of its list MPs. The electoral rules then offer the free places to the next people on Labour's original election Party list.
Labour cannot actually do this without the agreement of the MPs in question, so all manner of inducements and sticks are being tried. Likely roles include chairing boards and overseas foreign affairs postings.
It is clear that Labour's intake from the last couple of elections is not enough to succeed the current leadership, recent cabinet promotions such as David Benson-Pope, David Parker and David Cunliffe have proved liabilities as much as assets.
National conducted a painful and traumatic renewal prior to the 2002 election but the payoff is showing: Don Brash and John Key in control with the path clear for performing newcomers such as Jonathon Coleman, Mark Blumsky, Chester Borrows and Chris Finlayson.
Helen Clark has long traded stability and loyalty for talent and fresh faces; in fact it has been a key ingredient of the Fifth Labour Government's success. But nothing lasts forever.
Tags: Labour disunity
