Political candidates take their lead from their leader. They need to know not just what the party stands for, but what it stands against.
While in no way excusing Kerrin Leoni’s attempt to cover up her gang visit, it is obvious that she and her campaign team did not know Chris Hipkins’ position on gangs.
Understandable. Hipkins was a senior minister in Jacinda Ardern’s government, which took a very different approach.
Labour’s campaign now has a problem that may be much bigger than Kerrin Leoni.
Hipkins and his campaign team must be wondering whether any other Labour candidates have canvassed gangs for electoral support.
I can help. I have served on Labour’s campaign committee.
If one candidate thought canvassing gangs was acceptable, there will be others who now wish they hadn’t.
They may be relying on the gangs to keep quiet.
Any candidate who is concealing having sought gang support is vulnerable to a reporter finding out or, even worse, blackmail by the gangs.
Better to fess up now.
The Honourable Richard Prebble CBE is a former member of the New Zealand Parliament. Initially a member of the Labour Party, he joined the newly formed ACT New Zealand party under Roger Douglas in 1996, becoming its leader from 1996 to 2004. This article was sourced HERE
Labour’s campaign now has a problem that may be much bigger than Kerrin Leoni.
Hipkins and his campaign team must be wondering whether any other Labour candidates have canvassed gangs for electoral support.
I can help. I have served on Labour’s campaign committee.
If one candidate thought canvassing gangs was acceptable, there will be others who now wish they hadn’t.
They may be relying on the gangs to keep quiet.
Any candidate who is concealing having sought gang support is vulnerable to a reporter finding out or, even worse, blackmail by the gangs.
Better to fess up now.
The Honourable Richard Prebble CBE is a former member of the New Zealand Parliament. Initially a member of the Labour Party, he joined the newly formed ACT New Zealand party under Roger Douglas in 1996, becoming its leader from 1996 to 2004. This article was sourced HERE
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