Winston Peters taking steps not to be seen as ‘Labour’s poodle’ before the election.
Political commentator Matthew Hooton says Winston Peters’ recent criticism of his own coalition partner is likely a tactic for re-election.
Mr Peters made headlines this week when he hit out at Labour over its handling of the abortion legislation, saying the issue should go to a referendum.
He told Sky News that his was the only party which had acting in good faith over the legislation, and said the issue was never included in coalition talks.
He has also been at odds with some in Labour over the Ihumātao protest.
Mr Hooton said the perceived schism could be a tactic to assure voters he is not “Labour’s poodle” when it comes to election time.
His power comes from being a wild card, Mr Hooton said, and likely wants to be seen as being able to go either way.
“On Election Day when people go to the polling places .. he needs them to think he is neutral between National and Labour – if he doesn’t secure that, he’s probably not going to get to five per cent,” Mr Hooton said.
“More importantly from his perspective, He needs to be able to genuinely negotiate with Labour and National and they both have to fear that he’ll go with the other.
“He can’t flounce out of the Government the way he did out of Jenny Shipley’s government, because that would look like he’s completely unreliable – some people might say he actually is – but he’ll want to do this progressively.
“”He needs to be independent again, so this is the beginning of that process.”
No matter what he does between now and the election, we must remember what he did since forming the COL and relegate NZF to history next year.
“More importantly from his perspective, He needs to be able to genuinely negotiate with Labour and National and they both have to fear that he’ll go with the other.”
HAAAAAHAAHAAHAA! Too late, we all know he is a lying, manipulative arse. Mr used to be 7% kingmaker won’t make the threshold this year. Simple Cindy was sucked in by Winston’s negotiating flannel to gain the baubles of coalition, Simon won’t be so stupid as to follow her example.
Simon won’t be so stupid
I admire your confidence, but don’t share it.
I’m aware Simon hasn’t as yet said National won’t consider coalition with NZF. I don’t trust either politician but I’m hoping Simon takes the same route Bill did and presents a large NO sign from National to Winston well before the next election.
Has Simon categorically ruled out Peters? I think he said “highly unlikely” or words to that effect.
WG, you are spot on. Some of us with long National party experience have always known it. He can’t and shouldn’t be trusted. Dealing with Peters, it is vote NZF, get Labour/Greens. We know from history he doesn’t go full term when he is in govt, so a coalition with NZF is a recipe for a disaster.
The problem is that National is a LONG way from the 61 seats that it needs.
National needs 3 things.
Labour to drop a lot
The Greens to get below 5%
And NZF to get below 3%
Or a right wing party that gets 5%
That is a big ask.
New Zealand will be seriously into a recession by this time next year in my opinion, so those numbers that Dignap suggests might be on the cards.
NZ First are goneburger- Their elderly voting base will never forgive him..He will get 2-3% max
And the Greens are self destructing by the day…
Winston’s voter base can clearly remember 1963, but struggle with whether they took their pills this morning.
That’s how he trots out the smart suit and the Grecian 2000 every three years talks big and gets himself another seat at the trough.
In my old dad’s words, ‘you can’t trust Peters any further than you can throw him’. Not all elderly are sucked in by the old snake-oil charlartan.
My old man used to say when referring to the drunken dwarf, “Never trust a Maori with a briefcase”
If I was Simon I would say now or very early in the new Year.
We will only go with NZF if they promise (in writing) to form a coalition with National now and on tv and in all the news.
A Coalition with National and NZF and that NZF will only get 2 or 3 ministers.
Otherwise we will not go with NZF after the election, so a vote for NZF is a vote for Ardern.
Except Winston is not real good at keeping promises.
How many years did he ‘promise’ us he would never let the Greens into Government?
How many years ago was he going to abolish the Maori seats?
I think, just my opinion but Simon or who ever in the National party should not say anything until near on at the election. Don’t give winny the time to plan his next attack. If they leave it till close to or at the election it will keep him wondering if he has a chance with National. Winny is a wily old fox, National have to play their cards very close to their chests with this one.
That only works if Winston believes political expediency totally trumps National’s decision making over National voters hate of Peters. It will be interesting to see if Simon’s zeal to be in power supersedes National voter signals to bin Peters as a potential coalition partner.
Probably forming a coalition with National this is the the only way Winston can retire and be able to hold his head up, so he might do that and behave himself if it happened. At the moment he is looking at retiring with a fairly filthy reputation, and human nature would suggest that is not what he wants his swan song to be.
Peters ego isn’t going to allow him to retire. He will leave parliament as he intends, in a box.
Dramatic scenes in North Auckland as truck catches fire after fleeing from police
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/08/dramatic-scenes-in-north-auckland-as-truck-catches-fire-after-police-chase.html