Cunliffe refusing Farming Show

There’s a certain irony in the position I find myself in with Labour leader David Cunliffe.

You see, David C has red-carded me.

Meaning, for the first time since 2000, when then Prime Minister Helen Clark agreed to a weekly slot, I will not be interviewing the Labour leader on the Farming Show.

Rightly or wrongly, Cunliffe says he won’t get a fair hearing, that we will make fun of him. Heck, we make fun of everyone, including ourselves.

MPs of course have the right to choose what shows they go on. but it is unusual for an opposition leader to boycott a show. Normally in in opposition you take every opportunity you can for free media.

When I think of Labour, I think of politicians such as Damien O’Connor, David Shearer, Grant Robertson, Annette King and Phil Goff. 

They’re eminently sensible people and, at a push, I could live with them running the country

But then I see remits such as the one proposed by the party’s ruling New Zealand Council at the annual conference and I shake my head. 

That remit would require the list-ranking committee to ensure its list fairly represents sexual orientations as well as tangata whenua, gender, ethnic groups, people with disabilities, age and youth.

What a load of politically correct bollocks.

So here’s my message for PC David C, which unfortunately I can’t pass on personally. 

If you really want to be the next prime minister, get your teeth into some issues that affect middle and low-income NZ – jobs, education, health, and the minimum wage are traditional Labour strongholds.

Attack National where you have an inherent political advantage and where it might have dropped the ball.

And his replacement for David Cunliffe?

On second thoughts, I might save that message for my new Farming Show correspondent, Dr Russel Norman.

Good on the Greens, for taking up the challenge.