Its Shearer's job

Willie Jackson's Opinion

Friday, 16th December, 2011

Opinion: From nowhere to the top job in the space of a fortnight, that's the amazing story of the Labour Party's new leader David Shearer.

In fact I doubt that Shearer had even considered himself a serious chance until very late in the piece when he put his name up against the two favourites David Parker and David Cunliffe.

He didn't exactly set the world on fire with average performances on television and he looked in dire need of some urgent media training.

Strangely though, most people didn't care neither the public nor the country's leading political commentators who said that despite his hesitation and struggles with interviews he was clearly the right person to lead Labour.

David Parker saw the writing on the wall so threw in the towel and then David Cunliffe tried every trick in the book to try to win support for his bid.

His view that Labour needed an experienced and savvy operator like himself was a fair enough observation and his promotion of Nanaia Mahuta as his deputy should be applauded rather than condemned. Which is what John Tamihere did when Cunliffe announced Mahuta as his running mate.

JT's criticism that Mahuta's selection was just a cunning and devious ploy by Cunliffe to try and win the brownie vote was an irresponsible and cheap shot. His condemnation however would not have helped Cunliffe as JT for some unknown reason is seen as a player in terms of public influence.

Cunliffe though didn't help himself because although he gave slick machine-like performances on TV there always seemed to be the feeling that he was too smug and too arrogant.

That was probably never better encapsulated when after being asked on TVNZ's Close Up to describe himself in one word he chose to describe himself as dynamic. That was in contrast to Shearer who used trustworthy and that probably summed it all up. That's exactly what Labour needs.

Shearer has qualities that Cunliffe can only dream of – he is self-deprecating, humble, a breath of fresh air for a Labour Party that has lost touch with its constituency.

Although he doesn't have the edge and guile of a Cunliffe, Clarke, Cullen or Goff he has life experience that will more than make up for this. His humanitarian work in countries like Somalia and Iraq should be more than enough to steel him for the challenges ahead.

And the current prime minister is a perfect example of why you don't need a parliamentary career to be popular. 

Yes, David Shearer – the man who came from nowhere to take the top job – has a chance of a lifetime. I sincerely hope he can do the business.

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