15 September - New Zealand Labour leadership election

[You kip if you want to...]

I hadn't realised this happened, but it had been coming for a while now!

David Shearer, leader of New Zealand's opposition Labour Party resigned last week after a pretty disastrous 20-month stint as leader, having taken over following the party's 2011 landslide defeat when they were led by the equally disastrous Phil Goff. Speculation's been rife for months, but it finally came to a head on Wednesday when he finally admitted he'd lost the confidence of his party.

From what I gather, the electoral system is similar to that of British Labour: a college split three ways, caucus (40%), members (40%), affiliates (20%). This is the first leadership election under this system for the party, which previously just left it to the parliamentary party.

Current candidates are deputy leader Grant Robertson and list MP Shane Jones. The easy frontrunner is David Cunliffe, the opposition's finance spokesman, who hasn't fully declared his intentions yet. The main will be between Cunliffe and Robertson, both hailing from the left of the party.

Cunliffe was beaten by Shearer in the 2011 ballot.

[Leftbehind]

Any details on what the candidate's platforms are?

[GAworth]

I know there is a debate on whether a list MP could be PM, so that may hurt Jones. If memory serves me right didn't Jones run and loose to Pita Sharples in Tamaki Makaurau, which with Dr. Sharples no longer Maori Leader he become even more vulnerable, which a Labour Leader could win, but would NZ be okay with a Maori Electorate or List PM. Be interesting to watch.

[lilTommy]

Looks like there was a poll out already:
A TVNZ Colmar Brunton poll published on 25 August found David Cunliffe led the potential contenders with 29% of the popular vote and 32% of Labour Party members, followed by Jacinda Ardern on 15%, Shane Jones on 11%, Grant Robertson on 10% and Andrew Little on 9%

http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/grant-robertson-confirms-bid-labour-leadership-5543300

Interesting, Jacinda Arden, who has not declared, ranked second amongst total kiwi's but 4th among Labour members.

- Cunliffe was the most attached by Key, esp over possible gov't with the greens Russel Norman (this came acorss as a huge no no, what's the deal with the greens being demonized by Key?)
- Robertson being gay was mentioned as a possible hindrance to his bid, even by former MP Georgina Beyers (first trans MP anywhere)

[Peter the Lefty]

Cunliffe copies and pastes Robertson's FB announcement.
http://www.3news.co.nz/David-Cunliffe-copies-Grant-Robertsons-Facebook-announcement/tabid/1607/articleID/310681/Default.aspx

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Results...

Members - Cunliffe 60.14%, Robertson 26.71%, Jones 13.15%
Affiliates - Cunliffe 71%, Robertson 17.3%, Jones 11.92%
Caucus - Robertson 47.06%, Cunliffe 32.35%, Jones 20.59%

Total - Cunliffe 51.15%, Robertson 32.97%, Jones 15.88%

David Cunliffe is the new leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.

[lilTommy]

Results...

Members - Cunliffe 60.14%, Robertson 26.71%, Jones 13.15%
Affiliates - Cunliffe 71%, Robertson 17.3%, Jones 11.92%
Caucus - Robertson 47.06%, Cunliffe 32.35%, Jones 20.59%

Total - Cunliffe 51.15%, Robertson 32.97%, Jones 15.88%

David Cunliffe is the new leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.

This shows you the importance of having the membership vote and not just the caucus. Overwhelmingly the membership (and affiliates) chose Cunliffe but the Caucus went with Robertson. As a Canuk, where we have 1member 1vote in the NDP i'm amazed at how caucus can have so much power over the leadership of a party/movement and the actual membership so little.
reason for the victory; "Through sheer weight of numbers, the rank-and-file have installed Cunliffe in the party's top job for a mixture of reasons - from revenge on the parliamentary party for trying to block moves to make Labour's internal politics more democratic, to Cunliffe being the only senior MP articulating the view of the Labour left."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-armstrong-on-politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502865&objectid=11125168

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-armstrong-on-politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502865&objectid=11125044