Labour vs Labour

The Herald reports:

The Labour Party’s parliamentary and local body wing is taking different tacks on the privatisation of Ports of Auckland.

The parliamentary wing is strongly opposed to a sell-off, whereas some Labour councillors on Auckland Council are prepared to consider a sale of some or all of the $1 billion port company.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who promised to “Stop Asset Sales” as Labour leader during the 2011 general election, has ruled out selling the port company’s land holdings but has not ruled out privatising part or all of the operating company. …

The position of some Labour councillors is at odds with Labour’s MP for Te Atatu and Auckland issues spokesman Phil Twyford who said the party strongly opposes the sell-off to fix a short-term cash crisis.

I can never understand politicians that insist assets can only be purchased by borrowing money, never by selling off other assets.