Goff's leadership remarks no gaffe
Fourth-ranked Labour Cabinet minister Phil Goff has really put the cat amongst the pigeons this morning by admitting he's interested in the leadership.
Granted Goff didn't tell us anything we didn't know already. You'd have to be deaf and blind to not know the Mount Roskill MP has been grooming himself to take over from Helen Clark ever since the pair left university.
It's also true that Goff has never denied he was interested in taking over, either. But I can't recall him ever being quite so explicit as he was in a partial transcript of an interview he gave to Alt TV, which airs tonight.
The remarks, reported on the NBR's website, include that he would look at the leadership "if I felt that I was the best one in that position and that Helen had stood aside voluntarily''.
He also said "sure, there's a prospect of defeat'' when asked about Labour's chances, adding "but I'm not thinking about the future''.
Given the opportunity to explain himself to reporters this morning, Goff didn't resile from his remarks - in fact he said he stood by them. He added that Labour was the underdog going into the election, and that clearly some people felt it was time for a change.
Now, full marks to Goff for honesty, but it's a well-known political convention that senior ministers don't upstage their leader by talking about defeat in an election year, particularly when the party is staring down the barrel of a walloping.
And they most certainly don't start speculating about the process involved in a leadership change, bloodless or not, should that party be defeated.
The question, then, is was Goff simply having an off day or was he being disingenuous? Did he make a faux pas or is this part of a wider game plan on his part?
I'm going with the latter option. Goff has been in politics almost as long as Clark. He knows the score. There is no way he would have made these remarks without an end-game in mind.
Consider also his track record. Goff was one of the gang of four who went to Clark's office in 1996 to ask her to step down. He held an infamous barbecue at his house in 1999 to which Clark was not invited and rumours have persisted ever since that it was to canvass leadership options.
Goff is well known to be on the Right of Labour's political divide. He is the antithesis of the current Left-leaning hierarchy dominated by women and trade unionists. Political pendulums being what they are, sooner or later things will swing back towards a more male, blue-collar, conservative perspective.
So what's Goff's end game? I'm not for a minute suggesting he would sabotage his party. Nor do I think there is even the remotest chance of a leadership spill before the election.
But it is clearly in his interests for Labour to lose, and lose badly. That would prompt a clear-out of the current leadership and its allies and give him the opportunity and the mandate to rebuild Labour and take it in a new direction.
I think his comments to Alt TV, repeated again this morning, were a reminder to his supporters and the wider public that Phil Goff is still in the frame, biding his time, waiting for his opportunity.
Sponsored links
Newest First
Oldest First
Well the knives are out the jockeying for position is starting.Phil Goff is saying im the man to take over the party.
Finally the right of the Labour Party is putting a stake in the ground their saying that they have had enough of Gays Lesbians and Femminazis ruling the Labour Party and New Zealand.
They know that their core supporters who are leaving the party daily are sick of these idealouges.
Here we go again...one of the same old journalistic representatives getting himself into yet another lather like his brother! Get a life!
I think that HC is history after the election regardless of the result.
Even if she gets close I think that it has become clear that she and her clique are so out of touch with Labour's natural constituancy that some change and normalisation is necessary.
Who knows, it could even be sufficient to temp me back into the fold.
IF:
Education policy is written so as to give working class kids a real chance to excel, rather than just focusing on dragging things down to a common level in the name of equality.
Benefits are provided as a safety net, not a lifestyle option.
Laws are enacted so that every person in NZ is treated the same regardless of race, colour, gender.
etc
I don't think it's any great surprise that Helen won't be Labour's leader at the next election if they don't win this one. No shock whatsoever to anyone who actually thinks things through.
The difference will be the manner of her departure. I see her standing down as leader, but remaining as an MP to provide advice to whoever replaces her and then not standing for reelection in '11. She's been at the helm of Labour through one election defeat and four replacements of National's leader: Jim to Jenny to Bill to Don to John. Goff might be speaking out of convention's turn, but he's not saying anything that people haven't already speculated on. He's been flagged before as one of the likely successors to Helen when she finally goes.
Never mind guys. My master is plotting too. He is not going to be Deputy PM for ever. He will put his hat in the ring and win aginst Goff. Kiwis are not yet finished with my master yet. More taxes need to be paid to complete the unfinished social programmes of my Labour Government. We won't rest until all rich people become poor people.
I can't imagine Helen is happy about this. She tried yesterday to shut down the Immigration Service issue by having another inquiry as a way of clearing the decks for Thursday and now this. The budget is just going to be one of a number of things we'll be talking about after Thursday, it wont be the focus Labour would like it to be.
Matt I don't think Helen would be happy stepping aside and "providing advice". She is such a powerful, aggressive alpha-type control freak that there's no way she will hang around if the writing is on the wall.
Not sure if PG understands necrophilia but he had better learn fast. If he keeps making public statements like these he will be assuming the leadership of a corpse after the election. Labour should remember the disaster that followed the Lange/Palmer/Moore debacle in the 1980s.
I supsect PG's next step will be to say he has been quoted out of context and it is all the fault of the media.
Well that's a surprise isn't it?? They should not delay and go through a slow death, do it quickly call an election now!!
They must go
All rise - On the House stands adjourned
Dumb and dumber: Axing Heather Roy
Carter commits political suicide
Green leader out of line with protest
Get Carter, but not because he's gay
Party's over for Labour's Hooray Henrys
Whinegate unlikely to sozzle the PM
English sprinkles the fairy dust
Family of 13 face threat of homelessness
Dad leaves stories to be remembered by
Police uncover alleged date-rape drug lab
Airport to remove homes in noise zone
Emily Longley 'stood no chance' - prosecutor
Rebstock appointment to welfare reform board concerns
Airport to remove homes in noise zone
Family of 13 face threat of homelessness
Target carpet cleaner in court
Kiwis pay up for popular TV shows
Doubts don't slow Facebook behemoth
Airport to remove homes in noise zone
Down syndrome protest at workshop
Health boss photographed drinking from beer bong
Councillors must do more to stop demolition
Cyclists run foul of city's walkers
Homeowners contaminate recycling efforts
Ahhhh it's all coming apart at the seams for labour, unsure how much thread HC has left to stich up all these botch ups/gaffes? There is no doubt if Labour only get 30-35% in the polls come election, Helen best 'retire' as the knifes will be out, rather apt really as that's how she got to be leader, stabbing Mike Moore in the back, so retirement for HC/MC (Laurel & Hardy) is very much on the cards come Dec.
On another note, all the right leaning bloggers on here, you have bemoaned the fact that National have not released any policy plans, the Left leaning bloggers have said 'Why should they, as Labour will just 'steal' them'....Nationals policy of 1.5billion on faster broadband for everyone has been added to cullens budget on Thu?...may not be 1.5billion, but $$$ for same 'policy' none the less.
Best to keep quiet Key, stand back and just watch Labour implode