My wager is with a government MP that at least 8 cabinet ministers and 12 Labour MPs will make identical announcements before the end of June next year.
The announcements will be accompanied by the claim it was always their intention to pull stumps next year to “pursue other options.” Some may even be true but most will reflect their awareness that the government will be landslided out of office next year and understandably with the cabinet ministers, after a stint in cabinet, reverting to opposition is deeply unappealing.
They will face the charge of rats leaving a sinking ship. I don’t see it that way. Political parties are not sacrosanct institutions and an MP’s first duty is to himself and his family, aside from which genuine pre-election resignations by MPs who’ve had enough are normal. What will be unusual this time is the number of them. But whether they resign or not they’ll be out anyway.
I’ve even got a $100 bet that Jacinda loses her seat. There’s a close to home precedent for this. When a government falls from grace to the degree Labour now has, the opportunity to target the leader is seized upon.
This is what occurred with John Howard who after 11 years as Prime Minister, saw his government rolled, but doubtless the biggest shock was he himself losing his normally solid Liberal seat.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE.
They will face the charge of rats leaving a sinking ship. I don’t see it that way. Political parties are not sacrosanct institutions and an MP’s first duty is to himself and his family, aside from which genuine pre-election resignations by MPs who’ve had enough are normal. What will be unusual this time is the number of them. But whether they resign or not they’ll be out anyway.
I’ve even got a $100 bet that Jacinda loses her seat. There’s a close to home precedent for this. When a government falls from grace to the degree Labour now has, the opportunity to target the leader is seized upon.
This is what occurred with John Howard who after 11 years as Prime Minister, saw his government rolled, but doubtless the biggest shock was he himself losing his normally solid Liberal seat.
Sir Bob Jones is a renowned author, columnist , property investor, and former politician, who blogs at No Punches Pulled HERE.
4 comments:
Let's hope she loses more than her seat. When you look at who has lost under her management and who has gained, she deserves to lose everything.
MC
I won't be sorry to lose our insufferable 'First Man" as part of the exit package as well.
I see that Bob J has spent quality time at his office window, with telescope, observing the "hill, which upon sits the Beehive" and with such observation(s) is able to decree the "who is who and what, when & how of the population/inhabitants that reside/work upon that established & esteemed plot of land.
I would agree (and most Kiwi's would as well) that his comments are well founded. From TVNZ/News Tuesday 13 Dec/2022 seeing who is "sailing off into the distance", the current six have not been spectacular at their respective Ministerial Portfolios. I do recall that the Govt of Helen Clark, after 9 years had a similar occurrence, when "Her team" suddenly realized that the Electorate had had enough and the "polls at the time reflected that".
Strange "how history repeats itself"!
I heard a rumour recently that Phil Twyford is planning on jumping ship to the Greens
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