Little, Key take separate tacks over Clark

Comment

Even if things should fall apart, it seems the centre cannot hold Labour leader Andrew Little’s interest. In a strangely intense rejection of Helen Clark’s suggestion that parties on the Left must ‘‘command the centre ground’’ to win elections, Little dismissed the idea as ‘‘meaningless’’ and ‘‘a pretty hollow view’’.

Strange, because it is truism. Winning power requires 50 per cent plus one of the voters - and Mr 50 and Mrs 51 are by definition in the centre.

Perhaps Little was trying to say something more subtle - that the centre can be owned by someone else (not John Key surely? Maybe Winston Peters?) without embracing defeat.

He may even have been worried his own insiders would take ‘‘centrism’’ as an abandonment of his mandate. As he explains it, he is constructing a ‘‘coalition of constituencies’’ ahead of next year’s election. It is one that transcends simplistic Left and Right, but is focused on some salient issues, such as health, housing, inequality and the needs of small business.

But whatever the explanation, it seems odd that Little would allow himself to be seen as offside, or peeved, with Clark’s view.

She is, after all, Labour’s most recent and consistent winner.

Contrast Little’s stance with Prime Minister John Key’s enthusiastic championing of Clark, his former rival, as the next United Nations chief.

There are no signs that the straw poll overnight will contain any better news for Clark, who has languished down the league tables so far.

But Key has been unstinting in his efforts, leading United States Vice-President Joe Biden to joke he thought she must be Key’s sister.

There must have been times when Key felt like telling her the game is up, especially now a couple of countries with veto powers have been tipped among her ‘‘discourage’’ votes. But he has steadfastly insisted in public that the call to quit is hers, not his, to make.

Beyond the altruistic reasons of seeking a top slot for a Kiwi on the world stage, it is unlikely Key will be blind to the domestic advantages for him.

Clark was, after all, popular with many a centrist and women voter in her time and still commands respect. Showing magnanimity towards her can hardly harm his prospects of a fourth term - and might well improve it.

Which underscores just how odd it was that Little would distance himself from her comments - especially when the UN secretary-general vote is coming to a head.