Why Jacinda & Clarke need to host a famous Labour Party Summer BBQ
New Zealand’s first couple (is that what we call them?) have plans for a well deserved summer holiday, but I also think they need to re-invent a famous Labour Party tradition.
The Labour Party Summer BBQ.
In the past the infamous Labour Party Summer BBQ was used by Labour MPs to plot against the current leader who wasn’t succeeding in the polls. Phil Goff attempted to re-invent it by hosting a Summer BBQ when he was still leader.
I know this because I got an invite.
He invited a plethora of journalists and media types who had sympathies with the Left out to his farm and put on a huge spread. It was a smart idea that went some way to helping keep the faith and personalise relationships he used in the 2011 election.
As Labour eyes their first time as Government in 9 years, they must acknowledge they face a media landscape utterly against them. Hosting an annual summer BBQ at the Prime Minister’s house with the purpose of building personal relationships with those who side with their aims and goals would be a smart tradition to re-start.
Well, how about starting to re-connect with the workers, particularly the non unionised ones, same as beneficiaries, and to have an event not so much for journos and the ‘Thorndon bubble’ or Wellington beltway crowd, but with such people?
Labour AND Greens need to rebuild a support base, as the one they have is fragile, fragmented and not that reliable. Depending on middle class swing voters is making for much volatility, and impacts on what a party in government can do.
A course of public events may be worth running, by the parties, not so much the ones now holding higher offices, although they can of course also attend.
Auckland Council has music in parks events, often well attended, so something along those lines may be worth a while, in various places, organised by Labour, by Greens, perhaps also NZ First, reaching out to supporters and potential ones.
Reform the media.
Yep I agree martyn, I think Jacinda is good in public I remember the way Jacinda swept me off my feet on the night in the Auckland town Hall openning the election race.
She stole my heart as our Tracey Martin has done so these ladies need to begin the warming of so many ‘bitter hearted people’ out there you and i and ED all you are there.
So Jacinda ‘lets do this’ – Lets have the return of the Labour supporters and coalition parties “Annual Barbeque” please as Martyn wisely has suggested.