Tuesday, March 09, 2004
This sums it up nicely, pear shaped.
Tricky game this politics business, John Armstrong sums up the position re the Maori seats, and pours cold water on the chances of a Maori party at the same time;
A byelection would achieve little, bar the embarrassment of Labour having to fight a campaign against one of its former MPs.The only thing that seems to be consistant and clear is that the beliefs they espoused to get themselves elected don't matter a jot compared to the beliefs they are willing to adopt to get themselves re-elected. Not to say that is exclusive to the Maori MP's or this issue.
National could not stand a candidate - unless it wanted to look hypocritical after Dr Brash's promise to abolish the Maori seats.
Likewise NZ First, which also has a policy of not standing in Maori seats, although Winston Peters might view a byelection as an opportunity that could not be refused.
Of Labour's Maori MPs, only John Tamihere and Tariana Turia would have any chance of retaining their seats as independents.
What would they do after that?
Vote against the Government and bring it down, thus fast-tracking Dr Brash into the Prime Minister's job?
