Labour's 'New York branch' in bid to roll Goff
Labour's fallout from Darren Hughes’ alleged improprieties is far from over. Rumours are rife of a leadership coup.
Word from inside the party is that the New York branch (aka former leader Helen Clark) has been involved in secret talks over the future of current leader Phil Goff.
Mr Goff has always been considered a temporary head, okay to lead while National is firmly in power, but unlikely to be the next Prime Minister.
Parker, Street, Dyson running numbers
“I am reliably informed that Labour rank and file are planning a challenge to Goff," a well-placed insider told NBR.
"David Parker, Maryan Street and Ruth Dyson – with the approval of the New York office – are gathering numbers to see what can be done,” the source said.
Mr Goff’s handling of the Hughes event was the final straw.
Quake visit a cover?
The Labour Party isn’t commenting on any rumours. But that isn’t stopping the speculation, with sources even questioning the timing of Ms Clark’s recent visit to Christchurch to inspect earthquake damage.
“It struck me as a bit gratuitous," said one party member – who also noted that the timing coincided with the period when Mr Goff would have first learned about the complaint laid to police about Mr Hughes.
Mr Hughes was this week stripped of his responsibilities amid controversy sparked by a complaint to police against him from an 18-year-old male student.
Labour leader Phil Goff had asked Mr Hughes to stand down from his roles as education spokesman and chief whip, pending the outcome of the police inquiry, and Mr Hughes agreed.
Mr Hughes, 32, was one of Labour's rising stars and was only recently promoted to the roles.
Mr Goff has copped criticism over his handling of the matter but defended his decision not to go public with the complaint when he became aware of a fortnight ago.
"Firstly it would not help the police inquiry that was taking place because there would be a storm of controversy around it. Secondly it would not help Darren Hughes himself, who was innocent until proven guilty. And thirdly it would not help the complainant.
"I think that was the right judgment to make."
Subtle switch
Others think differently. In the incident, now dubbed Goffgate, Mr Goff has subtly changed his language suggesting now that Mr Hughes no longer has a future with Labour.
“It is very different now that Goff has switched from saying that he will judge Hughes on whether the police proceed with a prosecution to saying that it will be Hughes’s own quality of judgement on the night that decides the matter. A subtle switch I noticed in reporting in the media today. Hughes is gone, we can now safely predict,” a Labour Party member told NBR.
Possible replacements lurk
Rumours have been fuelled by tweeted sightings of the next two Labour list candidates (former MPs Judith Tizard and Mark Burton) in Wellington today – the implication being that replacements are being lined up should Mr Hughes quit. While Ms Tizard is not well-loved by the public she is, regardless, next on Labour's list should any MP depart.
Second allegation
Meanwhile, unresolved allegations have emerged that there was an earlier cover up, during the time Ms Clark was prime minister, involving Mr Hughes and a male staff member of a ministerial office.
iPredict sees Goff gone
As for Mr Goff's future, prediction market iPredict.co.nz is showing massive trading of the stock predicting whether he will depart as Labour leader before the election (the site, which allows real money bets on the rate of politicians, is now to attract so-called "insider traders."
The police investigation into Labour MP Darren Hughes appears to have sparked the frenzy of trading in Mr Goff’s stock.
Yesterday the volume of trades in the stock climbed well over 5000, more than 50 times the average daily volume of just under 96.
And the probability of him departing before the election has risen dramatically.
The stock yesterday fetched a price of 48.3c, representing a 48.3% probability he will finish as leader before the election - up a massive 36c (282.36%) from the opening price.
However, it has since dropped down to about the 30c mark.
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Comments and questions46
Dear Helen,
You have no idea darling.
If you and your old cronies select David Parker you will be going from one idiot to another. There is only one credible candidate and that is David Cunliffe but he is no fool and he will not even contemplate accepting such a role unless he can get rid of idiots like Parker, Dyson and Maryanne Street.
The National party will be pissing themselves with what is going on. This is getting better and better for them - so bad that they could probably risk introducing harsh new initiatives into the economy and still win the next election by a long way.
Labour needs to get rid of the old " Helen " school and also get rid of the connotations of being the gay/lesbian party. I have no issues with gays or lesbians by the way but when the whole party is run by them the general public won't buy in on another Labour Government.
Can't help but think how slimy the whole Labour lot are. Yuck. Skulking around behind the scenes of Christchurch?
They've already demonstrated they are completely void of any vision or plan for the country. Why would anyone in their right (or left) mind vote for these people? What do they have to offer NZ?
They need a complete cleanout. Move up Shearer. He's actually a decent guy. Still wonder why/how he is in this Labour party...
Labour may as well concede the election now and save us the cost.
Disarray, tatters are just a couple of words that come to mind when thinking of the current labour party, shame...
Actually, I reckon it might be quite good to get an openly gay Prime Minister.
As a long suffering business taxpayer for the last 30 years, it might hurt a lot less to be shafted by an expert.
But what would I know....
Clint East coined a phrase "cluster f*ck" which seems just as appropriate to this bunch of vaccuum heads.
If they weren't already closely asociated with Unions I would say they deserve to meet each other!
Pay back for the 9 long years of suffering Labour inflicted on NZ. I hope they fester in their own seething pool of squalid, fetid, filth, lies and back stabbing squabbling.
I think labour will do so much better if phil goes. As for the comments about labour being a horrible bunch of people and wonderign why people vote for them, well i think that is all ludicrous. Obviolsy you are a national supporter. I am in the mide to left wing arena and i see labour as a good party with good people (although currently bad policies). With a chnage in leadership and a chnage in vision the party will rise again. National is not doing any better, we middle and lower class are suffering, and when people realize that national is to blame then they will be punished in the polls. All party's have some good policies. Lets just take some from all and get a new/great parliament. Or a non-party parliament of individuals who vote as theur electorate wants.
There is absolutely nothing funny about this.
Its a national disgrace.
Sort it out and sort it out now.
Hughes you are embarrassing our country and our political system.
Naked 18 year old boy running scared, holding his pecker to a police car from an MP and Labour Deputy Leaders residence at 4am????
Go! Be gone with you. And never come back.
Resign immediately! That fact that you haven't and have not been pushed is disgusting.
Go! Be gone now!
I am afraid I disagree with you re: Labour's "good people". Since the 2005 election spending shenanigans, Philip Field and more recently the abuse of ministerial credit cards, I would say the general voting public sees Labour as a bunch of self-interested, dishonest career politicians.
It would be good to see the labour party return to it's roots - working class and the gays gravitate to the greens where they should be.
We all should be worried when elements of the loony left start figuring!
Please. What am I missing here?
Why is this country not in an uproar over this?
Wasnt it Anette King who gave her daughter the ministerial car to transport and sell drugs from then crash? And Hughes is now boarding with her? Or have I got that wrong.
PS does anyone who paid for the damage?
Bring back Miss Tizard....and National will buy every citizen a glass of champagne and we can save the cost of an election.
The Queen of Sloth is everything that was/is wrong with the coven that ruled for too, too long.
Agree with I need a shower, it's Shearer or fold the tents.
Parker ,Street ,Dyson ready to pounce on poor wee MR GOFF.Be careful what they wish for.Here is a small sample of the 3LOSERS.Parker was dumped by his electorate for being a little bit too self centred for his electorate.He also was accused of being inept with his company returns.Steer certainly is certainly up the wrong street any which way ,her track record on the ACC BLOWOUT which she kept quiet before the last election .Has cost the people of NZ billions of dollars.Last but not least DYSON need i say anymore,FIRED BY CLARK FOR BEING CAUGHT IN A DIC POLICE SHAKEDOWN.WHO THE HELL ARE THEY TO JUDGE MR GOFF .The 3 losers are not good enough to lick his boots.
Time for a new party I think, one with forethought, respect for NZ people of all creeds and walks of life, Business sense, Pride in our country, Passion for the Job and lastly leadership for overall accountability
Someone with the vision of future to create jobs, prosperity and financial stability for our nation.
To use the strengths of our nation if the dairy industry is proving a point providing the world with quality product it is now time for other industries to monopolise themselves and work together to capitalise on the current situation of the shortage of food worldwide.
Nuclear disaster in Japan other countries have banned their product what have we done nothing we should be capitalising by supplying clean green food fresh fruit and meat...at a cost of course…
All we need is a catalyst and for like minded people to get together and stand up. The time for a new party is now.. Not a party all about the balance sheets.. Not a party for socialist pap… Not a green party who would have us all walk to work.. not a religious party who would have us pray 9 hours a day…. And just not Winston or Anderton who by the last three letters of their names have weighed this country down enough…
New Zealand is a better place than we give credit to… So lets toss out the old and get in the mentally stable… Good bye Goff and Key no longer do we need old men with little lead in their pencils…
If as a politician you can not live up to the above its time to step up or to stand aside for a New Zealand of the future… Strong, Powerful, and free….
What sleazey reporting of gossipy rumours. I wondered what happened to the Truth reporters.
Things will get darker if there is a vote for PARKER.Are Street and Dyson household names, or two people long past their useless date.
Cunnliffe, give me a break. He's a Keynesian devotee of what would be horrific excesses. We've all seen what a magnitude 6.3 earthquake can do the to economy, well Cunnliffe would be about a magnitude 9 in comparison.
Labour is typified by takers.....they send their leaches into our uni's to warp and pollute the minds of young bright Kiwi's with their entitlement and socialist ideas, they ensure that gov't depts are filled with their secret spies, tapping into emails etc. making it impossible for any non-labour government to work in confidence, and even worse, their teachers union, ensuring that their sisterhood can ply their trade without comparison or real bench-marking.
the 09 Labour Xmas Party is going to come back to haunt young Darren. Helen managed to cover it up at the time but not now
Time to become a state of Australia.
As for needing a shower, I will after I have thrown up.
Vote Vote for Judith Tizard she is the one who will have a bit of fun and we wont vote for run run as fast as you can you wont catch me i'm the Ginger man.
Say what it is you're alluding to. What are you afraid of?
Just another goff by goof.... frankly he's about as much a leader as i am the pope
This is a ridiculous article. I wish the journalists in New Zealand would get some credibility.
You know -- that when Judith Tizard's, next on the Party list, to take over from Laughing-boy, Labour is well and truly effed. It truly is!!!
What is it with the Labour Party.. obviously unable to work out which side they're batting for.. and from the top down. Then of course there's that very nasty (historic)rumour involving Helen's hubby, that resulted in Winston getting of the hook. Best they continue to f-up as it means Key can stay in and stay focused.
PS> Today's hurriedly called press conference would have had more creditability had he done it as the Disney character goofy
Where is Andrew Little in all this?
You want David Cunliffe and Russell Norman in coalition
The Ginger & Goff, sounds like a pub name
To achieve excellence you need strong competition.Labour cast off all of your new age nonsense return to the core fundamentals of your party ,look after your people first and your own ego later.We are in the most critical time in our economic history and we need a good opposition party to make sure National perform and are kept on track.Open the Labour Party history book and look into the 1930,s 1940,s look at the integrity drive and passion for the good of the working people and take those basics into your party.
Honesty, integrity, accountability & transparency - if you have to spell that out to these bunch of self serving idiots then t hey don't deserve to be in any Leadership ROLE period!!!
Evident by whats occurred here and a number of recent issues ... they're perceived very much as self serving first and foremost, do they understand how important public perception is... ???
Really who expected any more from a bunch of gay school teachers with inferiority complexes.. they were all bullied as children.
New South Wales maybe? Make this lot look like pre schoolers! Don't wish for what you don't need.
The problem with Labour is they have been so captured by the LBGT brigade that any healthy normal person would be put off by all the shenanigans and BS that these types generally surround themselves with. This dynamic certainly would put me off getting involved with the party.
Did you say Key-nesian?
At least the Labour party has no need for closets - the National party on the other hand could rename itself the Narnia party or The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobes.
They're more in need of a shipping container & a new leader by the looks of things
good reading and a timely reminder... http://www.nzherald.co.nz/budget-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501935&objectid=10511832
This article has undertones of real importance. I normally love a good spat full of inuendo, rumour and good stick poking scuttlebut, however I reckon Anonymous has it right that I guess is implied that the whole political scene is now so serious that the only thing left is to leave the slimy little village mudhole that is NZ politics and join the real swimmers in the big rich pool over the ditch. When we get the likes of Fuhrer Clark and her now priveleged cronies interfereing (as I am sure they are) from that seat of wannabe world government and domination...gawd help us...because she sure aint helping little ol NZ anymore. Labour now stands for everything that is inherently sick with NZ society and any semblance to a prouder past is so long gone as to be utter irrelevant. Why dosn't Goff just do the country an economic favour and concede an electoral vote defeat now, that will save a few million and give us the only thing later in the year that matters that being the referendum so we can dump MMP into oblivion. Labours an utter discrace, National equally so...the countries going to hell in a handcart...Lets join Aus...cant be any worse than what we got...We can even call ourselves South Tasmania.
You forgot to mention Carter- just could not help himself fill up from the travel perk trough - not because he was gay!
Is anyone else thinking what I'm think?
Where is H2 (Heather Simpson) working behind the scenes at the moment??
She will be doing Helen's work right now!
Ins't H2 in New York with H1 in an advisory capactiy ? Woudln't it be easier if all the gay labour MP's wore a special hat or shirt so the voting public actually knew what we were getting ?
What tickles me about Labour is that they have started using the word 'progressive' to describe themselves, Goof and his comrades. I've been intensively studying communist regimes recently and, of course, they used that very same word habitually to describe themselves. Since I'm absolutely certain that Goff (as a Fabian Socialist) know this, I must assume that they self-identify with Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao and those other loveable types. So, maybe he too has a psychopathic streak. Maybe, in fact, they merely masquerade as democrats.
I visited the Soviet Union in 1978 and their equivalent was the special shops useable only by communist party members [who got special currency to use] and foreign tourists [who had foreign currency, of course]. They contained luxuries like caviar which the Soviet proletariat could never have got hold of. Since, at the time, I was just out of university and still pretty scruffy, I sometimes didn't pass muster and was stopped by the doormen of these establishments. If I'd made a fuss I'm sure that a few of the strangely well-dressed Russians who always seemed to be hanging around tourist locations would have helped me on my way, if necessary with the things bulging under their armpits. Now, when I'm a pensioner and still pretty scruffy, I have to be careful to avoid one of the attended doors at smart shops because I feel such a fraud when the doorman sweeps it open and welcomes me in.
The truth is that socialism is always more-or-less evil. It always depends on fooling the mass of people that it offers heaven on earth [without having to work for it]. It exploits the warm hearts of the young and the fears of the old. It slips into totalitarianism at the drop of a hat.
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