The rights and wrongs
Communicating in any way to Jonathan Marshall isn't going to end happily for a man in Chris Carter's predicament. Carter said: "We could argue the rights and wrongs of whether I've done anything wrong. The only personal items were two bunches of flowers that a staff member sent on their card, and all ministerial travel was signed off."
He said the apology was given "because you have to think about what is good for the Labour Party".
Carter was embarrassed again last week when it was revealed he promised exclusive interviews to both TV3 and TV One. "I guess I just wanted to be nice. It's called PR, that's what politicians do."
Carter would be one of the most undiplomatic and oafish people imaginable on the labour side for the foreign affairs portfolio. If he can't do his own PR then he can't do the country's - he deserved to lose that role and probably shouldn't have had it in the first place - and anything that invites the public to think he may have been trying to arrange an exit package with Helen Clark at the UN isn't going to go down well either.
What of Carter's conservation portfolio? Carter's disobedience and disrespect towards Goff must lead to him losing that too. Goff put his trust in him to continue in an executive-ranked position and Carter repaid that trust by having a tanty that essentially challenged Goff's instructions on the matter. Continued disobedience seemed the order of the day. The two obviously don't hold the confidence of one another.
It would not surprise me if in the very near future, like tomorrow, Phil will want 'Chris to remain reconnected with his Te Atatu electorate' - or similar - and the conservation role may pass to a younger champion of Labour's conservation agenda.
It was telling that Mallard's very well written statement about his colleague never mentioned the conservation position.
Curious, too that Jacinda Ardern was twittering about conservation shortly thereafter. It would certainly strengthen Jacinda Ardern's electability in the marginal Auckland Central seat (against Nikki Kaye) if the voters thought she might be the next conservation minister. The crucial Green votes that put Nikki over the line against Judith Tizard last time will go to Jacinda if there was a reasonable chance she would get a portfolio like conservation in a Labour government. Nikki has got a fair bit of traffic to get through to make it to cabinet, but Jacinda will have an easier path should she re-take Auckland Central for Labour in 2011.UPDATE | Monday 12:10PM: RNZ reporting the electorate reconnection has been instituted:
UPDATE | Tuesday 11:10 AM: RNZ reporting the portfolio reallocation process has been instituted:
posted by Tim Selwyn @ 5:15 pm
4 comments
4 Comments:
Chris Carter is responsible for much of what cost Labour so dearly in the last election and its current place in the polls.
If you think back, the rot began when, as Minister of Building Affairs, Carter's lack of experience in the industry led him to formulate the Building Act 2004 which was, in the words of one prominent structural engineer, "dumb legislation". His Weathertight Homes Resolution Service was (and remains) a complete disaster.
It was largely this Act that gave rise to the "Nanny State" (shower heads, lightbulbs etc) talking points that worked so well for National. Carter's sexuality reinforced this perception of Labour promoting individuals on the basis of some "social engineering" or "politically correct" agenda rather than practical criteria.
It is ironic that Jones has been rendered impotent by this boondoggle and it is Carter who is screaming blue murder at the slap on the wrist he received, causing even more damage to the party. After all is said and done, it was Jones, who as Minister, made a good fist of fixing up the mess Carter had made of the Building Act while keeping expenses to a minimum (no overseas trips whatsoever during his term).
Goff has now promoted two more "Rainbow" members to the front bench.
This will not play well among the "blue collar" constituents that Labour most needs to win back. Despite my respect for Goff's integrity, I think he lacks political judgment.
"Despite my respect for Goff's integrity, I think he lacks political judgment."
I think Goff has shown the public that he will not accept his MP's using tax payers money frivolously; unlike Key who seems to just shrug his shoulders and let his crew get away with whatever they want.
That would definately be popular with voters.
I agree that Carter's antics after being told off are detrimental to Labour; and would be surprised if he is allowed to stay around for the next election in any position.
"he will not accept his MP's using tax payers money frivolously; unlike Key who seems to just shrug his shoulders and let his crew get away with whatever they want."
I agree with this reality but my post above is about the perception of what has occurred.
In dollar terms, the malfeasance of English, Heatley and Groser is monstrous compared to that of the Labour Ministers and the public seems well pleased with the wasting of $50,000+ on the political fishing expedition that resulted in these wonderfully prurient and damaging scandals. They don't seem to be aware that there was no financial cost to Jones' peccadillos and Carter's troughing, although wasteful and ill judged, was within the rules - a claim that got English and co off the hook.
Somehow out of this, Key has emerged smelling of roses and Goff has lost ground. Reminds one of the Muldoon/Rowling situation where the public perception was the reverse of the reality - Muldoon never sacked anyone, yet was perceived as being tough. Rowling immediately canned any wrongdoers and was labeled weak.
Labour's problems are in the backroom. Mike Williams was a dolt and they don't seem to have found a good strategist to replace him. Someone like Chris Trotter would fill the bill nicely.
Ye gods it just gets worse (for Labour that is). Chris Carter really is the gift that keeps on giving for National.
First of all Chris Carter tells the media that he takes advice from Helen Clark! This means he does not accept Phil Goff as his leader. Why does Goff put up with him?
Could it get any worse? Oh hang on...
Another quote from Carter "We could argue the rights and wrongs of whether I've done anything wrong". Ok so he still doesn't believe he's in the wrong. So not only has he not accepted his mistakes, he's giving apologies that he doesn't mean (ie openly lying).
Yep no need to give that man a shovel, he keeps on digging anyway.
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