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Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Mt Albert by-election: Meg Bates

Meg Bates candidate website. As the first to declare her hand she has an inside track. More tellingly than Helen Clark not mentioning anyone as a preferred candidate for her old seat in her valedictory last week was that Judy Callingham - on comments to this blog - was singing Meg's praises. Judy is half of Labour media grooming team ("media trainers" actually) Callingham & Edwards (as in Brian Edwards) who must be presumed to have the good oil - and an interest of sorts - in this matter.

Meg Bates has the same career track as the departing MP - Auckland University tutor/lecturer. It sounds rather underwhelming and dry on paper at least. The one advantage she has over the list MP Phil Twyford (and the person most likely to take out the seat I would have though) is that the new face will prevent the politically toxic Judith Tizard from re-etering on the list. There has been much said about Tizard and the lengths they will go to to keep her out, but the way MMP operates and the size of the caucus she will probably re-enter again anyway - closer to the election when it will be more poisonous to them.

And the Nats are up to their tricks. Whaleoil says he has a poll to prove Labour are in schtook:

MR polling in Mt Albert, 400 respondents, 4-7 April 2009
Electorate Vote
Labour 41%
National 40%
Greens 7%
Act 2%
NZ First 1%
Maori Party 4


It's probably not far off the facts on the ground here in the electorate.

What the Nats have to sort out is who is running for the blue team - Musuku, jolly decent chap that he is, will not cut it for them. The Nats don't even mention him, but he has been the candidate for the last two elections and he's told me he's confident of getting the numbers on the selection panel. After many years and his latest membership drive he cannot be written off as a contender as they have done.

Imperiling the situation for Labour is the Greens' decision to run. It's going to be plenty of fun and games over the next couple of months.

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7 Comments:

At 15/4/09 8:53 am, Blogger Bomber said...

1: If the Greens fuck this up for Labour there will be an civil war on the left we haven't seen the likes of since the Alliance split

2: How the fuck does Whineoil and Kiwiblogh get to direct the debate with their pet Tizard theory? Since when did the National Party research svengali and the son of the National Party President and andre the giant lookalike get so much say over a Labour party nomination?

 
At 15/4/09 9:33 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

heh, hi Tim. I forgot to mention I am also a trainee magician. Does that make me a little less dry?

Meg

 
At 15/4/09 5:51 pm, Blogger peterquixote said...

looks to me like Mt. Albert goes NAT,
this John Key lead NZ Government will rule for ten years plus,

 
At 15/4/09 10:49 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Since when was Labour left?

I'm not sure National getting another bozzo in will make a difference. They'll be a one term wonder.

I really do object to Labour Party Central dictating who the local member will be.

That condemned Christchurch Central to the very grey Brendon Burns, who parks over cyclelanes.

 
At 15/4/09 10:57 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

don't you mean A Thousand Year rule Herr Peter?

 
At 16/4/09 10:37 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Peter,
I'll have a pint of what your on my good man.

 
At 17/4/09 3:18 pm, Blogger Tim Selwyn said...

Meg,

Trainee magician? If Phil steps in you'll need every trick in the book!

You've got your name out there early - that's a good start.

 

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