Labour called rudderless

Stacey Kirk writes at Stuff:

Any semblance of a Labour political strategy has been conspicuously absent this past week. 

One of the most important free-trade announcements in decades was made, and Labour leader Andrew Little was nowhere to be seen.  …

But never underestimate the power of the Auckland vote, because that is where Labour needs to turn it around. 

An all-Wellington leadership team in Little and King would do nothing for that cause. 

Ardern has significant support in Auckland, and has also earnt the respect of many members of the business crowd. That could prove the decider.  

The upcoming review and consequent reshuffle is a crucial part of Labour’s strategy in the leadup to the 2017 election. 

They can’t allow the Governmentto dictate discussion as they have done on the TPP this past week. 

It’s understood the Government and Treasury had a line-by-line plan prepared to rebut any of vocal detractor Jane Kelsey’s possible arguments.

Irrespective of which side of the discussion you fall, that is the level of organisation Labour needs to be striving for. 

However, Little was on a pre-planned holiday and King was difficult to access. 

A refusal to rule in or out whether the party would even stick with the deal, if it was in Government, instills no confidence that it is a party with a direction. 

Any leadership team would struggle to hold course without a rudder. 

Maybe this sums up their direction:

Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream