John Armstrong: Labour on track for a showdown
1:01 PM Sunday Nov 18, 2012
Sources say David Shearer's patience with David Cunliffe has been exhuasted. Photo / Getty Images
The Labour Party is heading for a dramatic showdown over its leadership within days.
An angry David Shearer intends to confront the threat to his leadership by telling David Cunliffe this week to put up or shut up regarding a challenge to his job.
Sources said Mr Shearer's patience with the front-bench MP has been exhausted after Mr Cunliffe all but confirmed he would seek to exploit a rule change in Labour's constitution approved by the party's annual conference this weekend.
The new rule means Mr Cunliffe now only has to get the backing of 13 other MPs in the 34-strong Labour caucus to trigger a leadership vote in February which would take place under the party's new electoral college system.
That system is sought to favour Mr Cunliffe.
Under existing rules, the party's caucus is required to re-endorse Mr Shearer's leadership in February anyway.
Rather than allowing things to drag on until then, Mr Shearer intends forcing the issue, probably by bringing the caucus vote forward.
He is mulling over various options, but is likely to bring matters to a head within days.
The Shearer camp is fearful that unless the discord over the leadership is settled once and for all, the undermining of the leader and the continued ructions that is causing within the party will start to seriously damage Labour's chances of winning the 2014 election.
Certainly Shearer's leadership has been anything but inspiring. National are very weak on trust, credibility and their track record in government this year especially has been anything but stellar. Yet Shearer seems missing in action, too slow, to pondering. So if a change of leader is needed then do it but don't go through the idiotic self destruct method they are demonstrating now.
Public fighting over the leadership is NOT going to see a change of government. All it will do is warn voters that Labour's delegates are a bunch of trailer trash who can't see the wood for the trees. All they see is their own little weirdo agendas, forget the country.
Quite how 40% can elect a leader will fit with the majority who didn't is beyond any logic. This is a breeding ground for more mindless infighting. It is a big warning to avoid Labour at all costs.
I often wonder if some of Labour's members are really Nat's incognito. Chris Trotter, the dullard waffling commentator from the left and his ilk seem determined to keep National in government. John Key must be laughing!
The more worrying problem for Labour is that Cunliffe looks and behaves more like a backyard used car dealer than someone of principle, lacking every quality that David Shearer brings to the leadership.
Yes Shearer does need some work on the elocution and public presence but with the Parliamentary recess coming up there will be time for that. Now is the time for Shearer to show his hand, next year will be too late.