I Want My Party Back

So, I have considered this particular post for quite some time. I have decided that not only will I write it, I will post it. Afterall, if you are going to say things, you have to follow up with some action right?

I want to write every possible caveat in the world right now, this is hard. I want to write in more detail of why I love Labour, why I am passionate about Labour and why I care so much. Suffice to say, I do, I am and I couldn't care more about the Labour Party. Why do I care? I care because this is the party that supported my parents when things went wrong, this is the party that ensured that some people I know had a second chance in life because they deserved it, this is a party that shares my values right to the core and I can't ignore that.

In that vein, I write this blog in two minds, trying not to be defensive or to couch anything I am about to post here. This to me is like one of those times when your best friend is about to make a mistake or has been living a mistake and you are the only one who can say that one thing that is going to make them stop and think about it. I see this as one of those times where what you say won't be what you're friend will agree to, in fact, your friend is going to resent it, in fact your friend may even turn on you. I also don't count myself as The One who will say something that will change the course of Labour and don't be mistaken for thinking that I believe so, I don't. I have close friends in the Labour Caucus, friends I love and value and respect and it is out of that friendship, love and respect that I write this.

So, enough of me doing what I said I wouldn't, writing caveats and ways to eventually defend myself. There are things to be said and I am sick of the conversations I have about this, someone is me, and I may aswell say something and see if anyone takes a moment to pause and ask why.

Labour lost the 2008 General Election. No revelation there really is there? We are not in government and on it's current track, I don't believe Labour can win the next General Election. In fact, I'm not sure we could work to from a government at this stage even if things got close. It pains me to say that, but I believe this is true and I believe we are ignoring the writing on the wall saying that if we continue to work the way we are working, we won't have a shot at returning to the Beehive in 2011. I believe we could, but not right now.

So what's the problem?

The problem has layers.

When we went to opposition, this was our chance to renew. Going to opposition gave us a mandate for a complete refresh of the front bench and a change for those whose contribution could be questioned, they could be asked to step aside. This was our chance to see Labour take hold of this mandate for a complete renewal of the way we worked and the way we did things.

Did we do this?

Only time could tell.

In the end, we did not pledge ourselves to the kind of renewal that signalled the end of an era and the begining of a new one. Virtually the entire front bench has an "Hon" in front of their names. So, what does that mean? It means they were a Minister in the last government. Some may argue this is a good thing, it means there are people who know how to hold the reins and there are people who know how to operate.

To some extend with some, it is true. Though, I think, on the other side of that coin, is a chance to say that we could see new people on the front bench. It's not for me to judge the performance of any Member of this Caucus, but I can say that the principle did not work and will not work going forward. Of course, I say at this point, it would be the best thing in the world to be wrong, but I don't think I am. In any case, Labour in opposition, is merely Labour out of government.

What was it we understood as one of the key things from the last election?

Despite the fact that we were not despised for anything in particular, Labour became so entrenched in government that people began to become bored with us. Sure, we can blame the media, we can blame the fact that New Zealanders have a true sense of themselves when it comes to fairness and they always like to give the other guy a go. Whatever the rationale, what we should have taken from this is two things: 1- people didn't hate us, they were bored and 2- Opposition gave us our first chance to demonstrate to New Zealanders that we had indeed heard them.

We had our front bench. A front bench that is light-years beyond the capacity of the National Party front bench, that's without question... but with a likely long honeymoon, a chance to understand the mandate from the people and no consequences at such an early stage, why did we not exhibit some fortitude to appoint new talent up front? I don't want to list names but at the end of the day, this is about being honest in this blog so where is Grant Robertson and why has he not been challenged early? Why is Charles Chauvel not given more responsibility? Jacinda Ardern, much lauded bright light of the '08 intake, why was she not challenged with some more expressive policy responsibility? There is talent beyond the '08 intake too, Mackey, Cunliffe, Street and the list could go on. But talent was not truely exploited, there is dead wood and it's in the way.

What did we do next?

I think somewhat rightly, it was time to listen.

We did, and listen. And, listen. And, listen. And we still listen. Hang on, where are we now? We have spent so much time listening to New Zealanders, but we haven't spent any time reminding New Zealand who Labour is and what we stand for. What we have done instead is to tell New Zealanders, in somewhat minute detail, what we don't stand for. It's an easy thing to oppose everything and to the credit of some, we have stood in support of the odd government initiative, that takes guts. But, what I don't understand from Labour is what we are now. I know and believe Labour is about fairness, equality, opportunity and representation. I also strongly believe Labour is the party of truely universal values.

But, both National and Labour have fought so much for the middle ground, we have become a non-descript and indistinguishable party, Labour out of government, not Labour in opposition, not Labour the party with the alternative view, approach or values, but the Labour that doesn't like what the government's doing. Ok, so fair enough, that's fine, an opposition must oppose because there are differences in value systems to National. Labour is not a party that will regress taxation or increase GST to disproportionately impact on the poorest of us that the wealthiest of us can enjoy a greater take home pay etc. But Labour must be more than that, Labour must be a true alternative to the conservatives and their duplicitous Maori Party mates. We have moved so far to the centre, it's impossible to hear our message, it's impossible sometimes to distinguish us from National.

There may be work underway, there may be a programme of action yet to come, there may also be a large swathe of policy ready for launching. But, as we learnt in the 2008 election, you can have all the policy in the world, but if you cannot connect with our electorate, you could say nothing and end up with the same result. What I am asking for is a clear public message about what we, as Labour, are FOR, not just what we are against. It is a poor assumption to say that if you're not for it, you're aginnit, but it seems we are making such assumptions. Maybe I'm not picking up the messages, maybe I should watch the House more, maybe I should read more of the press releases? I don't know, but my frustration is that I don't believe I have heard a clear message yet from the party about who we are and what we stand for now.

We have not played race politics so how can we be branded with that? Because there is no clear message about what we are for. This must surely be a party about collective responsibility to support the most vulnerable of us and that celebrates the greatest, we are a society, a community and this party is surely not about veiled and conceited Friedman-lite couched personal responsibility dogma?

If we are a new Labour, let's hear how? If we have gone back to our roots, I'd like to know. If we are sailing some kind of tacking coarse where we interchange between the two, I'd like to know. At the moment, I don't and that's not my fault. I read the blogs, I read the paper, I watch the news and all I see is a momentary sound bite, sometimes hashed, sometimes not, a Labour spokesperson against it. It's not enough, be against it but give me my alternative.

So where does that leave me?

I'm not sure where this leaves me. I have the same faces, behaving like they're in government not really telling me much. Case in point, the government comes out with its response to the Tax Working Group last week... where was Labour's? Should we not have had a parallel analysis underway? Should we not have had our alternative apporaches to tax and economy ready for reiteration? Should we not have stood up immediately and said "Labour will reverse any decision this government takes to increase GST and here's our tax plan for New Zealand"? Why did it take 8 hours for an eventual response to be given? Is Trevor Mallard really the only one who saw that coming? Surely not, no disrespect because the man is a supreme player in the game of politics but in all seriousness, why did it take Labour almost a week to respond when the politics of the issue are immediate and the advantages of those politics apparent?

Where was Labour's excellent plan in Justice when the government rolled out its 100 day plan? In all seriousness, the National Party managed to implement 100 days worth of action in the Justice sector without much noise from Labour. Ok, so there was much said in the House but I have said this a million times, no one watches the House and even the media give up after Question 5 in Question Time unless the PM, Brownlee of English are due to answer a juicy primary. So what gives?

You can't tell me it's a lack of quality support because some of the staff in this arrangement are brilliant, intelligent and deeply clever political animals. you can't tell me it's because of the honeymoon because when we make sense, we get the message through such as when Charles Chauvel took Smith to task on the ETS. You can't tell me it's a waiting game because in the great scheme of things, there are 14 short months before things really start to pic up and if by now, people aren't already clear about why they could support Labour, they aren't going to be an awful lot closer in 14 months with 100 pages of policy to explain, we need to start with values, vision and people.

So what's the solution?

Well... we have to be prepared to ask ourselves the hard questions. This isn't easy. Labour is a disciplined machine and even amongst the supporter ranks, in which I count myself, there is a little hesitation in criticising, but why? We must look in the mirror, we must own our history and we must not be afraid to stand up and say we are Labour and we are proud to be the party of choice.

We have to do more to let New Zealanders know what we stand for. It's all well and good letting people know we are listening, but what happens to all that listening? Is it falling on deaf ears? Are we taking so much time in focus groups and feel-good chat fests that at no point are we recognising the inherent danger in ignoring our own voice?

We have to set our priorities. We are a party that advocates for universal access to quality health care, or we should be. We are a party that agitates for the rights of workers in good times and bad, or we should be. We are a party that believes in universal access to quality education that seeks to not only ensure young people get an education but that our talented are nurtured, or we should be. We are the party that balances crime and opportunity, punishment and rehabilitation, chance and response, well at least we should be. The Labour Party is about equality, diversity and presenting a progressive alternative to the conservative dogma, at least we should be.

We must present an alternative by what we stand for. We must invigorate ourselves to demonstrate that we are the party of change, the party that takes New Zealand on great strides and away from division.

But, we have become average. We have fought so hard for the centre, we have ignored the left, we have made conservative choices so as not to upset the great middle classes. Where is the vision, the bold plan for the future, the courageous commitment to the greatest moral covenants of equality and fairness?

We are no longer in government and we must cease to operate as if we are. With the talent and skill available to Labour, the positives of our party are there for all to see but they're shrouded in a secrecy and a demand for loyalty that is without reward. There are questions that must be asked and answered clearly and honestly.

Steps we can take:

1. Express our values, our vision and say it so loud and so often that it's never misunderstood.

2. Renew and refresh, take the chances on the quality and talent this Caucus contains.

3. Be bold and find a new path that doesn't look like Labour out of government.

4. With our values clear, let's form a vision that is Labour and show people why it matters to them.

5. Stop just listening and start talking about what we stand for.

6. Politics is about people, so start sharing the plan, it shouldn't be a secret, be proud of it.

It's not often that you feel this way about a blog, hence why I have written more than most would read I suspect. But, it has to be said that we are not healthy no matter how good we think last year actually was. If it was good, the people would be telling us it was and they're not. They want more from us and they deserve it.

I'm not attacking any one person, that's unfair. But every member of this great and noble party has an obligation to make a contribution that is not about themselves and sometimes, like now, I know that saying some of this will come at a cost. It may alienate and it may not resonate with some and that will be as it will be.

There's no in depth analysis, there's no excel spread sheet with polling, there's no exemplified DNC practice in behaviour, it's just me saying what I think. I don't represent anyone's view in Caucus nor do I suspect this blog to actually make waves. But I know there will be one or two who might think I made a bad choice, so be it because if it makes one person ask the questions, I'm happy.

I want my party back.

Please?