Kia ora, got home around 6.15pm after visiting a friend in hospital. I turned on the radio while I prepared dinner and discovered Andrew Little had been elected as the Leader of the Labour Party.
I turned on National Radio and there was Mary Wilson grilling a Union guy, the tenor of which was that this was a disaster. For the Labour Party, for the country, for the world (sorry, I added that last).
The whole thing was a Union power play and we would all live to regret it.
In the lead-up to the vote I heard nothing but criticism of Mr Little, he’s dour, he’s union, he couldn’t get enough votes to hold a seat in the general election, he presents a grim image, doesn’t have a sense of humour – the verdict was he wouldn’t stand a chance anyway but if it did happen, it would be disaster for the Labour Party. The world, as we know it, would end.
Most commentators have echoed this point of view. I had no strong views on this election – the only thing I was sure of (and I was right) was that Nanania Mahuta wouldn’t stand a chance. I don’t think any woman (maybe Helen Clark) would have stood a chance.
I heard nothing but good about Grant Robertson but I would have been surprised if he’d been voted in. Prejudice is alive and well out there especially among the conservative working class males.
However only Andrew Little received almost universal denigration.
Then he gets voted in?
Has to be good doesn’t it? Mr Little is so far down in general estimation there’s only one way for him to go and that’s up. I like the idea of the underdog confounding the critics. Helen Clark did.
