Will Clayton go for Chch East?
Vernon Small at Stuff reports:
A stoush is brewing in Labour over a possible replacement for Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel, with locals warning that attempts to parachute list MP Clayton Cosgrove into the seat will be resisted.
Speculation inside Labour has suggested that Cosgrove, who lost the Waimakariri seat in 2011, could be an option.
If he won that would bring in the next candidate on Labour’s party list, Northland-based Kelvin Davis, who is seen as a strong supporter of leader David Shearer.
Sounds like he needs the numbers!
Yesterday, Cosgrove would not rule himself in or out as a candidate for the seat. He was “very flattered and humbled” to be mentioned as a possibility.
“But it’s all speculation. That’s all I’m saying.”
However, a well-placed Labour source in Christchurch East said there was a lot of “negativity” towards Cosgrove.
“If he does come this way there will be big problems.”
Locals being mentioned in connection with the seat include James Caygill, whose father David Caygill was finance minister in the Lange Labour government.
Councillor Glenn Livingstone has not ruled himself out but said he had no plans for a tilt at Parliament at this stage.
Leanne Curtis, a manager at Canterbury Communities’ Earthquake Recovery Network, said yesterday she was “happy to say I am not standing”.
I expect Caygill to go for Chch Central, but he may go for this one. The trouble is teh seat may radically change at the next election. My pick for Labour’s nominee is Tony Milne.
Idiot/Savant is not keen on Cosgrove:
So the worse-kept secret in Christchurch is out, and Lianne Dalziel is officially running for mayor. Which means a by-election of she wins, which in turn requires a Labour candidate. So naturally, Labour are talking about parachuting Clayton Cosgrove – a man without a connection to the area, but with a very strong connection to David Shearer – into the seat, so they can in turn get Kelvin Davis – another man with a strong connection to David Shearer – in off the list.
This encapsulates everything that is wrong with the Labour Party: taking their voters for granted, treating their support like a gift from the leadership rather than something which must be won, and the infection of everything with their petty internal politics. And then they wonder why people treat them with contempt? We’re only returning the favour…
Nor is Emma Hart:
You’re thinking about standing Clayton Cosgrove in Christchurch East, instead of him fighting to regain Waimakariri? I mean, I guess it would be an efficient way of showing both electorates exactly the same degree of respect, but really? This is Christchurch. Even moving someone in from North Canterbury is considered carpet-bagging here. …
It will be interesting to see whom both National and Labour select.