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Labour can count?

by Whaleoil on December 16, 2011

Message discipline is out the window under David Shearer. It was pretty bad under Phil Goff but now you have all and sundry offering up their opinions.

Labour just died hard in the ditch fighting asset sales and they lost. Shane Jones suggests that his caucus members need to learn to count:

Labour MP Shane Jones says his party has to realise that National has the numbers to push through state asset sales, and he will not criticise iwi which wish to invest in them.

Yesterday Mr Jones said that although Labour opposed state asset sales they were now inevitable and iwi wanting to invest in them for commercial reasons should not be pilloried.

He indicated a more pragmatic stance on the issue was ahead as Labour sought to re-build its links with business and enterprises.

“We can continue to criticise that programme, because we are in Opposition. But … the Labour Party needs to learn to count in terms of the election outcome.

“The Government has the numbers to pursue its programme. I certainly won’t get too precious if various iwi step up to the plate and say ‘we want to be part of this action’. That’s a decision they’re entitled to take. They’ve got sovereignty over their own commercial decisions.”

Shane Jones is the first chink in labour’s armour after the election. It looks like they won;t be able to use him int eh house to rail against asset sales. Especially with his stance backing iwi.

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  • Pete George

    I’m interested to see what Shearer’s stance is on asset sales, hissy fit or political realism.
    Many of the troops are stuck in hissy fit.

  • http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/ Inventory2

    The moment that John Key was able to go to the G-G and inform him that he could form a government was the moment when he had his mandate. Jones displays a level of ragmatism that other Labour MP’s need to learn.

    • diabolos

      Ragmatism is the exact and accurate way to describe it.  Asset sales are going to divide this country – and the true downstream effects  politically and economically and socially havent begun to be felt yet.

      Whose reality is Jones facing (ref nekminnit below) and why should labour MP’s turn their backs on what is frankly, right and just.  Is that what we’ve become – the new pragmatists (other than Jones who is a ragmatist) – theres a word for that – it rhymes with “institutes” but has a different set of starting letters.

      A fair number of people voted effectively – against Asset Sales – fact.  The polls said that something in the order of 70% of people were against them – or so i understand.  

      Jones doesnt understand the ramifications of this free-for-all.

  • nekminnit1983

    Good on Jones for stepping back and facing reality. A shame other sour-faced Labour MP’s can’t do the same.

  • David

    Shame really I had hoped labour would continue to go mental over the issue. Aside from the far left and the media can anyone see a reason why we can’t invest locally, hell even the Cullen fund is 80% invested overseas.
    I guess the left is worried kiwis might make a few bucks and start to like the capitalism that the rest of the world enjoys

    • Callum

      The reason you invest overseas is to spread risk, now point having all your money in NZ as if the economy tanks your investments are worthless when you need them the most. Always good to keep at least 50% exposure overseas.

  • Agent BallSack

    Shane Jones could probably do a half decent job as Leader. As long as the porn channel was disabled.

    • Sars

      Shane Jones watching porn is infinitely less creepy that Phil Goff watching porn 

    • EX Navy Greg

      Yup, I still wouldn’t shake his hand though  )

    • axeman

      “As long as the porn channel was disabled”.     

      You are sick ABS. Jonesy only watches normal porn not disabled!

  • Symgardiner

    Getting all upset about every issue is what has turned everyone off. This is the right strategy. Pick your battles and make sure you win.

  • Peter Wilson

    Yes, except there are so many quotes from Labour MPs saying how evil asset sales were. It doesn’t matter if there’s a new leader, how can they now say, “oh well, perhaps they are not so bad after all.”

  • Sars

    Yea I guess they’re a bit ‘damned if they do, damned if they don’t’ – on one side, if they accept the asset sales as a reality then they are accused of turning their backs on their fundamental policy yet on the other side if they continue to rail against them when they are going ahead they look out of touch with reality. 

    Maybe that’s the cost of taking the opposing view and then losing badly. 

  • Anonymous

    Good on Jones for taking this pragmatic approach.
    If iwi manage to get a share of the assets, then where’s the bloody harm, FFS? 

    • Troy

      I agree.  I’m going to buy shares, to make myself richer, so that I can put the money I make back into the economy.  It’s going to happen, it’s inevitable so those labourites who keep their heads stuck in the sand will continue to live in a world of deniability.  Geesh.