Shearer: Why he quit
GRANT ROBERTSON is emerging as the frontrunner to lead Labour after David Shearer stepped aside rather than face a no-confidence vote.
‘‘I realise I no longer enjoy the confidence of a number of my caucus colleagues,’’ Mr Shearer said yesterday.
His resignation came after weeks of mounting concerns culminated in a flurry of phone calls on Wednesday where senior colleagues made it clear he had to go.
Picking Mr Robertson could be a big punt for Labour. He would be its first gay leader and is seen as a Wellington ‘‘insider’’.
The Wellington Central MP’s strongest challenge will come from New Lynn MP David Cunliffe, who has appeal in the crucial Auckland region but lacks strong support in caucus. One senior MP said last night the race between Mr Robertson and Mr Cunliffe was ‘‘close’’.
Moves were under way last night to avoid a messy leadership runoff, but the wider party may push for a contest that would give unions and the wider membership a say.
Mr Shearer’s resignation came at the end of what one MP called a ‘‘growing crescendo’’ of MPs questioning his ability to take on and beat Prime Minister John Key.
It started in earnest on July 9 – the ‘‘night of the non-letter’’ – when rumours flew that a letter of no confidence was circulating. There was no letter, but Mr Shearer’s handling of the ‘‘man-ban’’ – a move to allow electorates to run womenonly selections – had further undermined him.
Seven senior MPs – David Parker, Shane Jones, Maryan Street, Mr Robertson, Clayton Cosgrove, Chris Hipkins and Annette King – met him in his office to tell him he was not making an impact and to put him on notice.
One MP said it was ‘‘vociferous’’ and sheeted the blame home to the leader. He was also told to sack his chief of staff, Alastair Cameron.
Since then the drums had been beating, with members privately criticising his workrate and his failure to stay on top of his paperwork.
In dribs and drabs, other MPs who had backed him against Mr Cunliffe in 2011 drifted away. Former presidents Ruth Dyson and Ms Street acted as rallying points for the growing discontent.
Insiders say it became apparent about two weeks ago that the mood had hardened. Even a ‘‘great day’’ could not save him.
By last week all but a handful of his closest supporters had deserted him. His failure to call a recess-week caucus meeting also rankled when the party needed to address some big strategic issues.
The ‘‘snapper’’ moment – when Mr Shearer held up two dead fish in the House – was a telling symbol of how much he was floundering, though one senior MP said the die was already cast by then.
One senior party source even questioned if the appointment of former press secretary and journalist Fran Mold to replace Mr Cameron had fuelled a focus on media-driven events at the expense of long-term vision. ‘‘It was a gimmick
‘I realise I no longer enjoy the confidence of a number of my caucus colleagues.’
David Shearer
when we need a solid message.’’
By Wednesday, Mr Shearer knew his fate was sealed. A Fairfax Media-Ipsos poll showed Labour making no headway, despite the Government’s problems with the GCSB, planned cuts to snapper quota and contaminated dairy products.
He took some soundings and ‘‘old hands’’ told him he would not survive a confidence vote. His time was up. There was no letter or even a formal challenge, although one member of Mr Shearer’s camp conceded ‘‘that’s not to say there would not have been one’’.
About midday yesterday Mr Shearer dropped his bombshell. A text was sent to MPs summoning them to Labour’s party room at 1pm where they were told he was stepping aside.
About the same time party Whip Chris Hipkins broke the news to party president Moira Coatsworth and secretary Tim Barnett. Mr Barnett was in Australia and had said less than an hour earlier that he knew nothing of the rumoured resignation.
At 1.30pm Mr Shearer fronted the media and read his statement, but refused to answer any questions and quickly left Parliament.
He was soon on a plane out of Wellington for a three-week holiday, his 20-month dream of being the country’s next prime minister at an end.
A short time later Mr Robertson headed into the debating chamber with list MP Jacinda Ardern at his side to lead Labour’s question time fight – with Mr Shearer’s empty seat beside him.