Smart Goff

Fran O’Sullivan notes that while Michael Cullen and Helen Clark have been falling over themselves to keep Winston happy, Phil Goff has been hapily overseas working on the US trade agreement.

Up until the last couple of weeks I would have said that Clark, even if she loses, would manage her own departure and delay it long enough for Cunliffe to have the numbers to beat Goff.

But if Labour loses, there could be a significant internal backlash against Clark and Cullen for their appalling judgement over Peters. Some of those Labour MPs were very unhappy about being forced to vote for Peters.

This gives Goff an opportunity to force a leadership ballot earlier rather than later, and campaign on a ticket of needing to remove those associated with the defence of Peters.