GUEST BLOG: Ross Meurant – “Friends” in politics are a very rare commodity

As the heat comes on Simon Bridges, he should be most mindful of lessons passed on by former party leaders.

Former Labour Prime Minister Wallace Rowling once said:

“In politics, don’t worry about your enemies, you can always see them.  It’s your friends you have to worry about. They come from behind.”

This week, long term National Party back room shaker and mover Michelle Boag, on radio, seemed to me to be saying:

“Judith Collins does not have any volume of support in their caucus and that all Simon Bridges needs to come out a winner, is some help from within”.

My question to Michelle is; Who and where is help within?

MY TAKE OF CONTEMPORANEOUS INTERNICINE WARFARE in the NATIONAL PARTY.

Note:  I say ‘Party’ as opposed to ‘Caucus’.

Simon Bridges is under threat.

If Michelle is sincere in her view that Simon needs help, the first thing he needs to fix is his speech.  His elocution (in my view) is an embarrassment to the nation. To have him standing on world stage speaking as he does ….   Unbelievable to me that a “friend” has not taken him aside and – helped.

Where are you, Michelle?

Judith Collins is on a roll.

Call her “Crusher.” Remind the nation (as did her enemies on radio today) that she was dropped from cabinet by John Key for alleged ‘conflict of interest’ over Chinese business association.  Or find her too conservative, as did I. 

Whatever your view; Judith has passion.  She is also well educated and can spar with the best in the debating chamber of parliament (where words used as weapons are far more painful than injuries sustained on a rugby pitch).

It seems to me based on feedback I still get from “friends” in and about the Hallowed Halls:

• Judith did not have the numbers to roll Simon – before the last election.
• Judith now does have the numbers to roll Simon.

In my opinion, if Judith Rolls Simon before the next election, as some “friends” inside the Party are encouraging, she will go over the cliff into oblivion next elections.

In my opinion, Jacinda (not the Labour Party) will win the next election.  

• Caveat: A week is a long time in politics

If Judith waits until after Simon goes over the cliff, that will be the time to roll Simon. After the next election.

The problem with this theory is, age.

As one who now collects the geriatrics pension, I can assure you that I am not an ageist.  But while the globe is littered with elder statesmen/women in leadership roles, I reckon that NZ’s aging population is becoming accustomed to having the next generation at the helm.

• `In my view, we are most productive 30 – 50.  If you haven’t made a mark by then, Lotto aside, you probably missed the boat.

Another problem is Todd Muller.

I won’t run his pedigree or credential here – but suffice to say (in my view), he makes claims to National’s leadership by the former police dog handler and security guard, Mark Mitchell, evaporate as mist might when sunlight appears.

CONCLUSION

Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.

DISCLOSURES:

ONE

I had recent involvement with Hon Judith Collins as a member of her electorate executive and taking her husband David Wong Tung (a former cop with me), to Western Sahara as my guest in my capacity as Honorary Consul for Morocco.

TWO

As an aspiring National party MP and later, after completing 3 terms as a National MP and   taking up a 3-year term with Rt Hon Winston Peters as his primary industries adviser, my “relationship” with two shakers and movers (help within?) in the National party – National Party president and Sue Wood and Michelle Boag, was – sour to say the least.

Sue Wood took unprecedented steps to block my ascension to Member of Parliament for National and Michelle Boag was a prime focus in the Wine Box enquiry at a time Winston and I were mates.

These two women continue to play a back-room shaker and mover roles in the National party – whether in selection of local government candidates or central government.

THREE

Jim Bolger fired me from the Executive – Undersecretary, for ‘perceived’ conflict of interest, when I took a board position on an off shore Russian bank (during the halcyon days of the Soviet Union implosion and oligarchs running wild).

Ross is an international businessman and entrepreneur. In 2016 Ross was appointed Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of Morocco. In New Zealand he is trustee and managing director of absentee Russian owned forestry and commercial property.

Ross has a bachelor degree in politics and management, a master’s degree in economics, statistics, law and policy and C.O.P’s in law.

From 2004 he lived and worked in Zimbabwe, Russia, Czech Republic, Thailand and the Balkans.

Since 2005 Ross has established business interests in aqua culture and fisheries development – from Morocco to Syria: U.A.E and North Korea.

In 2015 Ross was prime speaker on sustainable fisheries as guest of the Moroccan government at CRANZ Montana ‘Sustainable Resources: Africa’ conference, and an official guest at the 2017 forum.

A former Member of Parliament (1987–1996) and Member and the Executive Council of New Zealand in the National government, Ross was Under Secretary (junior minister) Agriculture & Forestry; Cabinet Committee Industry & Commerce & Chair Select Committee Fisheries.

Subsequent to parliament, he owned equestrian facilities; was elected to local government as a councilor; consulted to several major fishing companies, was engaged by parliamentary services as adviser to Rt. Hon Winston Peters and emerged as a key figure in the Scampi Affair, which falsely alleged political corruption.

Prior to entering parliament, Ross had been 21 years in the police.  Service included: detective on Regional Crime Squad and Drug Squad; 5 years Armed Offenders Squad, second in command of the infamous Red Squad, and commissioned officer in charge of police spies i.e. Criminal Intelligence Section and V.I.P. Security.