David Shearer did the unspeakable on The Nation. He indicated there’d be a reshuffle in the not so distant future – specifically to the front bench.
“[I'm] certainly looking at where we can improve. Obviously you would want to do that,” Mr Shearer said.
“With 34 MPs I need all my team contributing fully,” Mr Shearer said at the time.
“I have made clear that I will be looking closely at the performance of every MP and strong performers will be rewarded.”
Does this mean that the performance reviews he promised when he won the leadership are now complete?
It appears that rather than confront Cunliffe directly that Shearer is trying to pick off Nanaia Mahuta. While Chippie will be loving the idea, and has been doing a great attack job on the easily crippled Parata, Shearer is a bit nutty to pick on Nanaia.
First of all, Nanaia is pregnant. Any man knows you don’t fuck with a pregnant woman. Taking her portfolio away will be akin to taking her hokey pokey ice cream with sprinkles and gherkins on top.
Shearer can’t target Nanaia because in doing so he is throwing down the gauntlet at Cunliffe. Does Shearer really think he is strong enough to do this? Has Shearer now got the Robertson camp on side by allowing them to run all the House strategy (like letting Chippie run the attack lines).
Demoting Nanaia will be seen as another affront to Maori in Labour but may be this is intentional as Tainui in particular have played an important role on the water rights issue – and Shearer clearly has a different view.
Nanaia hasn’t performed in Education but can Shearer afford to move her to another portfolio? Is he going to suggest she walk through the Exit door first? How very chivalrous!
So, who will be Labour’s next Education spokesperson? Will it be Chippie who has been running the attack lines against the government? or perhaps it will be Sue Moroney? She desperately wants the education portfolio back – and has been snuggling up to the gaggle of gays in a hope of being seen as one of the team.
Only one question is left – how did Shearer manage to squander another good media opportunity for Labour by instead creating another opportunity for the newsfeed to be all about Labour’s woes… and not about the Government?
