The Press on Labour

Today’s editorial in The Press focuses on Labour. Some extracts:

It is now Labour which struggles to find fresh ideas and fresh faces. Prime Minister Helen Clark herself remains a formidable politician who, despite Key’s early promise, is unlikely to be bested by any Opposition figure in a head-to-head contest. But her deputy, Michael Cullen, appears tired and stale and needs to go, while other senior figures such as Steve Maharey, Trevor Mallard and David Benson-Pope are scarcely confidence-inspiring politicians. And because Labour squandered the opportunity in previous general elections to renew its caucus, the talent pool further down its ranks is minimal.

… no matter how strongly Clark herself can counterattack, it will not resolve her party’s longer-term problem. This is how Labour can come up with the sort of fresh and confidence-inspiring faces that National under Key finally appears to be developing.