The President vs. The Leader

On the Nation today the president of the political wing of the EPMU Labour Party, Andrew Little, over-rode the leader Phil Goff on public policy. He isn’t even a member of caucus and yet he presumes to tell Goff what to do.

Labour Party President Andrew Little is insisting four weeks annual leave is a core Labour policy and is incontestable.

Te Atatu MP Chris Carter has claimed in his now famous “anonymous” letter that Labour Leader Phil Goff “ in an unguarded media moment … bucked the caucus and CTU position that the 4th week was not tradable for cash and essentially supported Key’s position.”

Mr Carter was referring to comments made Mr Goff made on a Radio Sport farming show that he was relaxed about workers cashing in their fourth week’s leave.

But speaking on TV3’s “The Nation” today Mr. Little said there was no question that “when Labour is returned to Government next year the minimum annual leave entitlement will be four weeks.”

“There will be no tradability of the fourth week of annual leave,” he said.

Labour is in real trouble, not only is there an insurrection on in caucus, but the president essentially proves one of the main points of Chris Carter’s letter.

It is no surprise to notice that Helen Clark arrives back in the country for a speaking engagement next week. Chris Carter certainly hasn’t acted alone, he never does anything without a chat to New York. I wonder perhaps if Helen hasn’t already promised Carter a job as an UN Global Aids Ambassador or something similar.

Helen Clark is doing to Phil Goff what he did to her once, this is her retribution, make no mistake.