Welch on Labour

Former Listener columnist Denis Welch blogs on Labour’s recent antics:

Like several commentators I have to say that the Labour Government is going too far in trying to demolish John Key’s personal credibility. I agree with John Armstrong of the New Zealand Herald when he concludes that the Prime Minister’s attack on Key last week may have done more damage to her credibility than his. It smacks of unsavoury politics, digging for dirt like this. …

Even leaving aside the morality of it, it just looks plain desperate. Coupled with a recent tendency to arrogance, into which both Clark and Michael Cullen have lapsed at times, such tactics demean a government with a proud record of social-democratic progress. It owes itself and its potential voters a clean hard-fought campaign based on policies, not personalities.

I think Denis is going to be very disappointed. Clark was having a go at Key again yesterday, almost calling Key a sissy or something. It’s hilarious if not so sad.