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Andrew Dickens: As the polls fall, more cracks will appear in Labour's facade

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 11 Apr 2022, 4:24PM
(Photo / Mark Mitchell)
(Photo / Mark Mitchell)

Andrew Dickens: As the polls fall, more cracks will appear in Labour's facade

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Mon, 11 Apr 2022, 4:24PM

Well, surprise surprise, it seems the Queen of kind is not so nice after all. 

Estranged MP Louisa Wall mounted a media offensive over the weekend, speaking out on her resignation from the Labour Party and appointment to a cushy ambassadorial style job that was created just for her. 

At the weekend, Luisa Wall told media that as long as Jacinda Ardern is leader she would never be appointed to cabinet or have influence. 

She told Jack Tame that she fell out with the party's leadership and felt that she wasn't welcome in the caucus. 

Today Jacinda Ardern said she was offered a good list position and she was indeed in the caucus. 

Until she wasn't, of course. 

Jacinda Ardern also said that as leader of a parliamentary party it is important to have an inclusive and united team. 

So, from this we can take it that Louisa was not considered a team player and so was firstly depowered and then ignored. 

The reasons that the leadership and Ms Wall fell out are between them but it appears to date right back to the time that David Cunliffe beat Grant Robertson in a leadership spill. It is well known that the PM and Mr Robertson were part of the ABCs. Otherwise known as the Anybody But Cunliffe club.  With Louisa Wall in the Cunliffe camp, it shows you how long grudges can be kept in this party. 

That's the major takeaway.   

This Labour Government promised much including a kinder more inclusive way of doing politics. 

The actions surrounding Louisa Wall shows that this party is just as tribal and feral on internal enemies as any other political party. 

It shows that Jacinda Ardern does not tolerate dissenting voices. Indeed, she'd rather have incompetent ministers as long as they're loyal. 

And for exhibiting all this I find it very curious that the story didn't make the TV 1 News last night. 

It is also telling that a position was magicked up out of thin air for Louisa Wall to give her some honour in resignation. 

I've never liked the use of taxpayers' money to facilitate removing an enemy of the Prime Minister. It smacks of a cavalier attitude toward our hard-earned tax dollars. 

Along with Helen White's criticism of the Auckland police it shows all is not well in the party. 

One thing is for sure, as the polls fall and the lower placed MPs start to see their jobs disappearing, there will be more cracks appearing in the public facade of the Labour Party. 

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