All in the family

The Herald reports:

Labour leader David Cunliffe has appointed journalist Simon Cunliffe as his chief press secretary and media director.

The pair are first cousins – their fathers were brothers.

Well at least he will be able to trust his chief press secretary to be loyal – blood is thicker than water!

Simon Cunliffe has worked for David Cunliffe before. He was his Ministerial Press Secretary for a while in the 2000s.

He wrote a play, The Truth Game, about a newspaper in transition to the digital age which was shown at Wellington’s Circa Theatre last year.

Was a very good play.

David Cunliffe took over the Labour leadership on September 15. He took no part in the official interview of his cousin which was conducted by deputy leader David Parker, front bencher Grant Robertson and chief of staff Wendy Brandon. The interview team recommended the appointment which was accepted by David Cunliffe.

The article doesn’t make clear if anyone else was interviewed, but in the end it doesn’t matter. A party leader has total discretion to employ anyone they want. The only restriction is on partners and children (off memory).