Hard News by Russell Brown

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  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to nzlemming,

    I think she did, but it was Cunliffe ;-)

    Audrey Young says Helen Clark also wanted Andrew Little

    [Former Prime Minister Helen Clark recognised it in 2007 and tried to persuade Mr Little to stand in 2008,

    And everyone accuses her of not thinking of the future of the Party. I recall she brought Shearer on board too. Fancy that.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams, in reply to nzlemming,

    I think Helen assumed that Maharey would succeed had he not retired and on the basis that Cullen went as well. Whether the Party would've elected Maharey is another matter.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Thing is, the CGT is more popular than Labour. If anything, Labour drags down the popularity of the CGT, not the other way around. If it goes, it goes, whatever, but it's a mistake and it'll be a terrible shame.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    Also, Andrew Little shouldn't take an electorate. As long as he's leader he'll get in on the list, and when he stops being leader that's probably the time for him to move on from Parliament anyway, as it is for a couple of the other ex-leaders in the Labour caucus.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    She also brought Grant Robertson into her office to train up and was behind getting Jacinda Ardern back from London. Helen is very wise and I think her influence is more widespread than many realise.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I recall she brought Shearer on board too. Fancy that.

    And Shane Jones. She's a complex one.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Helen is very wise and I think her influence is more widespread than many realise.

    Yes, I too think she is (wise, Sofie means wise too )and her age wasn't even a problem ;) The sum of the Party and it's Mps have many strengths. Even the odd pitbull or 2. I'm sure they can get behind their Leader. I think that's what I like about Labour, they are all quite different, a real melting pot.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Jack Harrison,

    Unions are such a big part of our ability to expand together.Unions are such a big part of our history of social order. The idea a single worker has more power than a collective is crazy economics. Look at the Samoan Rugby Union team , it is now trying to express through unionisation , with help from their socialist All Black businessmen friends.

    Unions protect employment law. In your life you will spend more time at your employment than with your family and friends.

    Employment Law is very important although occasionally abused, e.g John Hawkseby, Susan Wood for example.

    wellington • Since Aug 2014 • 296 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Jack Harrison,

    But there are unions and then there are other unions. Look at 1951.
    And later Sonja Davies found that many unionists were not conducive to women in senior positions or any hint of feminism. Remember the battle over the Working Women's Charter.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    But there are unions and then there are other unions.

    And there are unionists and unionists. For example, it’s possible to be militantly anti-abortion, anti-gay and anti-feminist while remaining a major powerbroker in the Australian union movement.
    At the last count the Shoppies were one of Australia’s largest unions with over 200,000 members.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    unions are great,
    Sometimes unions get a bit to big for their boots, but their good far outweighs the bad.

    but i don;t see why it should be anything more than one vote per union member for labour leadership. So then there is no weighting from anyone who is not an MP.

    But hey i've just given up on labour, to scrap CGT is just stupid. I suspect many labour party members like me will vote their candidate and switch their party vote even more. Does New Labour exist anymore?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sue,

    Phoenix rising...

    Does New Labour exist anymore?

    ... and thus Novus Labour was reborn!
    the first past the post-partum post party
    delivered a Little renascence man
    plucked from a basket case in reeds
    raised afresh at the breast of an
    engaged & caring community,
    a Labour of love...

    ...we have the numbers!
    go forth an multiply
    be not fractious
    but give no quarter.
    May the fourths be with you...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    talking 'bout revolution
    or pole-dancing?

    And Shane Jones.
    She’s a complex one.

    Pragmatic 'bob-each-way' betting coverage?
    or
    balancing the parabolas
    of a pair of bolas...
    you always need spin
    to maintain balance,
    and gyros for stability!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ray Gilbert, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    My Mum worked for the now long gone MacKenzies shopping chain in the 70s. They dillegently went out in symapthy in support of the big "mens" unions like the freezing workers and warfies when asked, forfeiting pay while they did it. When their (mainly womens) union went on strike for a small rise in the low wages they were earning - their first strike in over a decade - not a single other union joined or supported them.

    Since Nov 2006 • 104 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    to scrap CGT is just stupid

    Yeah, well obviously it's a logical culmination of all the work of the union movement that I pay 33% tax on money I earn by working, and a big fat 0% on money I make just by owning a house.

    I must be missing something.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    I must be missing something.

    Well, the unions aren't saying CGT should be scrapped, are they? That's Little making a strategic choice for Labour

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Matt Crawford, in reply to BenWilson,

    Not even as much as Little-as-leader making a choice, rather Little-as-candidate arguing about the ability of Labour to effectively campaign on CGT and super@67 from opposition.

    I think you can get an idea of what Little is thinking if you look towards the differences between the 2011 and 2014 election manifestos where Labour detailed its intentions to raise wages that are already above the proposed minimum wage.

    The 2011 document detailed extensively the changes the party wanted to make such as reintroduction of industry standards to allow negotiated wage increases to be rolled out to non-unionised workforces.

    The 2014 version had some fluffy pro-worker statements, but fudged the mechanisms which would be introduced by calling for a post-election commission to hammer out the goals and details.

    I don't think that this style would have worked in 1999 for Clark; at that point in time NZ simply didn't trust politicians to do what they campaigned on (hence Labour's recent fetishisation with pledge cards). But I think that a few decades after the Douglas/Shipley deception the electorate is now prepared to give the governing party a little more wiggle room than they used to - the electorate shrugged when Key announced a surprise tax switch.

    Wellington • Since Dec 2006 • 58 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Yes, I don't see a Labour that doesn't believe CGT is a good idea any more. Just one that sees it's not a vote winner.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Ron Davis,

    2pm on the 18th I determined to hand back my little red card. By 9am on 19th it occurred to me that without giving Little a "go", how could he prove that which meaningful enough numbers amongst us had decided he could do well. Am I or the majority always right? I've been proven wrong before (as with Clark). So, I've decided that Little must pass a few tests before I hang up my cloth cap. I expect him to have the qualities needed to convince Palmer to stay on in finance, to draw Robertson close on the front bench, and to select a deputy from such as Jacinda, Grant, or Nash. The last name at least on the front bench would show a commitment to succession-planning that Clark notably failed in. Friends, if the party at large had been brave enough to opt for Grant, surely it has sufficient bravery to test the new leader fate has decreed we have before turning off him and/or the party.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2014 • 25 posts Report Reply

  • Howard Edwards, in reply to BenWilson,

    Wow, he's talking UBI. Now I officially actually like him.

    +1

    Albany • Since Apr 2013 • 66 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to nzlemming,

    The union is not for the workers - the union IS the workers. If the members (i.e. you, Andrew Geddis, in this particular discussion) are not happy with the way their union is run, it is up to them to put their shoulder to the wheel and be the change, instead of waiting for someone else to do it for them.

    That is just a massive fairy story - Union structures and their hierarchy are virtually impregnable – they are the lid on the box that contains the aspiration of working people (to earn a living wage) and that lid is kept firmly in place with the chains of employment legislation.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I don’t need one and I’m not Maori but I certainly feel comfortable having Unions represent the people.

    There's no problems with them representing their members - that's what I expect my union to do.

    Why some of them get to be the deciding vote in choosing a future Prime Minister however I have no idea.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Ron Davis,

    and to select a deputy from such as Jacinda, Grant, or Nash.

    Might be a bit of a PR issue with Nash....http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/63403143/MP-in-the-firing-line-as-parkers-see-red

    He would be well advised to flick the engine....maybe when he's big enough???

    Nice one.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Ron Davis,

    I expect him to have the qualities needed to convince Palmer to stay on in finance, to draw Robertson close on the front bench, and to select a deputy from such as Jacinda, Grant, or Nash.

    I assume you mean Parker in finance. If those all bagging Little actually took time out to listen to him and not like him after, I may understand. If you did listen to him you would have heard him say, his respect for the other contenders has grown while on the road . You would have heard him express disappointment about Parker's choice but would be talking to him. You would have heard him say he planned to call them all in to look at positions they may be interested in. You would have heard him repeat how CGT wasn't delivered properly and that it wasn't right for right now whilst they try reclaim those that were turned off them in this last Election and that they had to take a look at all the reasons behind their thrashing which CGT was one of. If you heard him or read any of the interviews it, would be obvious why he is setting CGT aside for now!

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    He would be well advised to flick the engine….maybe when he’s big enough???

    Heh.
    They won't let me put out fires, isn't that a shame
    Someday I'll be big and strong and fight every flame...

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

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