Labour leader Phil Goff is still Labour's best chance to win next year's election, according to influential political newsletter Transtasman.But Labour's front bench looks weak, and the party “desperately needs some policy to differentiate it from N
Labour leader Phil Goff is still Labour's best chance to win next year's election, according to influential political newsletter Transtasman.
But Labour’s front bench looks weak, and the party “desperately needs some policy to differentiate it from National and the Greens”.
Mr Goff lifted half a point to a rating of ‘6’ this year. His work to move out of Helen Clark’s shadow is acknowledged, with new policies rolled out and more underway, but he “still sounds a bit robotic” and “fails to connect”.
The rest of the Labour front bench shows little change on last year’s scores.
Deputy leader Annette King holds strong at 6.5, with David Parker, Darren Hughes and David Cunliffe as the next-best ranked at 6.5, 6.5 and 5.5 respectively.
Mr Cunliffe – a crucial part of the party’s economic policy development team – is credited with a much better year but told to find himself a better strategy than “challenging the government on what it said last year”.
Maori Affairs spokesman Parekura Horomia, down half a point to 3, is told to lift his game to ensure Labour wins its share of the Maori vote next year.
Charles Chauvel (6), Lianne Dalziel (5.5) and Grant Robertson (5) are singled out as back benchers who deserve swift promotion, with list MPs Moana Mackey (5) and Kelvin Davis (5) as ones to watch in future.
New Mana MP Kris Faafoi receives an initial ranking of 4 but already has ground to make up after a disappointing victory margin at the Mana by-election.
Lower-ranked backbenchers include Mt Albert MP David Shearer (3) – “so far a big disappointment” – and list MP Mita Ririnui (2.5) - “must be an important iwi networker or why would Labour keep him?”
Little-known list MP Ashraf Choudhary ranks last, up half a point to 1.5. “If he survives rejuvenation he will become a veteran list MP and it’s difficult to figure out why. Seemed to be more active in the House this year, but he’s still a
mysterious presence."
Read a summary of Transtasman's rankings for Cabinet ministers here.
