There have been a couple of times where Action Station have jumped on an issue in a way that I don’t think is particularly conducive to a positive outcome.
One of those times is now with their desire to create a social media pile on Goff and Shearer for supporting TPPA.
Now I love a political blood letting as much as the next blogger, but Goff has already signed his right to stomp around the sandpit on this issue off with the Labour Caucus earlier this week. Phil is a well respected member of Caucus, he just happens to be wrong on the TPPA. He needs Labour and Union activists mid year to win the Auckland Mayoralty so his huff may be short lived.
Shearer on the other hand is left holding the leadership of the right wing faction and is trying to mount a last stand with no one else standing around him.
The decision by Little to rule the TPPA out is a power move by him. It shows he has the dominance of Caucus and it is Andrew Little’s Labour Party not the old neoliberals never die Labour Party. None of the other right wing members of Labour have supported Shearer or Goff, so this revolt is more huff and puff than genuine challenge to Little.
Rather than playing into the right narrative of Labour being split, we should celebrate Little’s strength and allow these two old war horses the dignity to strut around the paddock for a last hurrah while Labour realign. Sending a social media pile on by Action Station is the surest way to make those two politicians feel maligned and resentful and far more likely to do more damage.
Sometimes all the Left are capable of doing is alienating other members of the Left.
UPDATE: To help prove the counter productive skills of the Wellington Union Coms Twitterati…
…just remarkable. Like I said, the Left are amazingly skilled at alienating other members of the Left, a social media hate pile on attacking Goff and Shearer is probably very counter productive.
Goff and Shearer do NOT get to vote. John Key has ensured Parliament does not have that right to vote on the TPPA. It’s only National’s executive that has that right. Goff, who is leaving and Shearer who doesn’t really matter, voicing their support doesn’t change a thing. But what IS important is that Andrew Little and his Labour caucus have publicly come out opposing the TPPA, even though it won’t stop National treasonously signing away our sovereignty.
Differing view on TPPA agreed
by Andrew Little on January 28, 2016
Opposition Leader Andrew Little has given dispensation to MP Phil Goff to take his own position on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement due to his historic involvement in negotiating its predecessor, the P4.
“Phil has had a longstanding involvement and public commitment to this agreement which differs with the Labour Caucus’ decision that it cannot support the deal in its current form due to its compromise of New Zealand’s sovereignty.
“When the Caucus met recently to finalise its position on the TPP I met with Phil and decided that his longstanding public position was such that he would be allowed to hold a differing view.
“This was discussed by the Caucus as a whole and Phil has made his position known,” says Andrew Little.
Phil Goff said he appreciated his leader’s dispensation in this case.
“I respect Andrew’s and Labour’s views on the issue and their agreement to acknowledge that I came from a different perspective. My position is well known and there is no need for me to elaborate further on it,” Phil Goff says.
http://campaign.labour.org.nz/differing_view_on_tppa_agreed
shows maturity, ability to think for themselves and honesty, as opposed to the National MP’s who act like a load of schoolkids blindly and dumbly obeying Crosby Textor. I’d rather vote for the former
That’s just not politicking
No, Little should expel him. It would show strength of leadership, on an issue that is pivotal to our future.
To be all, let’s just let Goff break ranks is wrong. We are not talking , kill ya dear ol’ nana humanely… We are talking our sovereignty.
And if his loyal caucus members don’t like it, they can close the door behind them too.
Goff is and always will be a neo-liberal and his nose has been in the trough long enough.
If the Labour Party want to ignite a spark like Sanders and Corbyn have, then they need to be messaging with integrity and strength around issues that echo the pulse of their followers.
Andrew Little should publicly suggest that Phil Goff and David Shearer join the ACT Party and purge any remaining neoliberals.
The objectives and policies of neoliberals are the same as those pursued by fascists.
Fascism and socialism are diametrically opposed.
there is no room for fascists in a socialist (progressive) party.
The old neoliberals need to be publicly expelled to send a clear message to the voting public.
How is it that the neoliberals in the labour party have been supporting policies and legislation that have polarised the country and then compromise to find middle ground with the extreme right and still ‘market’ themselves as socialists.
They are fraudsters.
Agreed a public blood letting will not achieve anything especially as john key will not allow a conscience vote in parliament on the tppa.
Goff is going to retire from Parliament soon, either as Mayor of Auckland, or if that is not the case, he will see his days are numbered anyway. Shearer must have a job lined up with Helen Clark or so at the UN, as he seems to be rather tired and unmotivated as an MP and member of caucus. He sits in the back rows and knows, he has little future with Labour. He will also change his career again soon, I suspect.
How dare you accuse me of being Union coms!
I work for a living.
Well put Martyn.
Reading Martyn’s post makes me wonder now if Little publicly denouncing the sovereignty issue of the TPP, was his way of exposing and bringing out the traitors in Labour. If it was, then it was a damn good move on the Labour leader’s part.
It could be that – a way of exposing the Rogernomes , – or it could be a way of gauging popular opinion , in which case at a convenient time both said unrepentants could quietly recant their positions…however that may be stretching things a bit far I will admit…
But agreeing with you … I cant think of a better way to root out these characters with an issue that forces them to have to make an ideological stand…if it was that then it is a very clever use of tactics for a long term strategy of neutralizing the divisive neo liberal influence among their caucus.
Labour could really be in to bring the fight to Key and his cronies come 2017 if this is indeed whats brewing.
It is my understanding that there are other Labour M.P.s who agree with Goff & Shearer. Giving Goff dispensation and holding Shearer to account is not a good look to the average voter. It makes the Party look even more divided. You can’t ignore the split narrative, it is a reality.
It is my understanding that there are other Labour M.P.s who agree with Goff & Shearer. Giving Goff dispensation and holding Shearer to account is not a good look to the average voter. It makes the Party look even more divided. You can’t ignore the split narrative, it is a reality.
Those on the right of Labour and those on the left will never be able to reconcile their alternative views on the TPPA. They are fundamentally opposed to each other. I don’t envy whoever is the leader of the Party their job. Far too much time has to be spent trying to keep the party unified, something that looks increasingly impossible.
Those on the right of Labour and those on the left will never be able to reconcile their alternative views on the TPPA. They are fundamentally opposed to each other. I don’t envy whoever is the leader of the Party their job. Far too much time has to be spent trying to keep the party unified, something that looks increasingly impossible.
This is simply the left and right of the Party having fundamentally opposing views. I wish Andrew Little the best of luck in trying to present a unified looking Party on the TPPA. Somehow I can’t see it happening.
Those on the right of Labour and those on the left will never be able to reconcile their alternative views on the TPPA. They are fundamentally opposed to each other. I don’t envy whoever is the leader of the Party their job. Far too much time has to be spent trying to keep the party unified, something that looks increasingly impossible.
Just because M.P’s toe the party line doesn’t mean they agree with it. I have heard there are other M.P’s who share the views of Goff and Shearer. This unfortunately shows the different factions that are at play within the political wing of the Party and I suspect the wider membership.
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