A silly comparison

Andrew Geddis tries to compare my statements on Labour cancelling the selection of Lesley Soper in Invercargill with National cancelling the Selwyn selection in 2007.

Andrew glosses over the key difference. No one at all has suggested that Soper’s selection in Invercargill was done improperly. The simple truth is that no one else wanted to stand, nominations closed with just her, and then once Eric Roy retired they decided they wanted a different candidate.

The 2007 selection for Selwyn was very different. Disgruntled candidates complained about the process and made allegations of favoritism. There were threatened law suits. If a selection has had procedural failings, then it is quite right to re-open it.

But if there were no procedural issues at all, then an uncontested selection shouldn’t be overturned.