Key says Shearer undermined by his deputy

John Key says David Shearer was actively undermined by his deputy, Grant Robertson.

Speaking at Wellington Airport yesterday after Mr Shearer’s resignation as Labour leader, the prime minister said Mr Robertson would be ‘‘rubbing his hands with glee’’ now his leader was gone.

‘‘There are times [Mr Shearer] was set up by his deputy . . . [Mr Robertson] spent the last 20 months undermining his leader.’’

Mr Shearer was a decent bloke, but lacked the full support of his team, Mr Key said.

The Government took every leader of the Opposition seriously, but he did not believe Labour could heal its wounds and divisions and present a viable alternative government, he said.

‘‘David Shearer was a decent man leading a very divided Labour Party,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t really think changing the leader will make a huge amount of difference.’’

He said he was disappointed he had not reached an agreement with Mr Shearer over the GCSB legislation, which passed into law on Wednesday.

He blamed Mr Robertson for the failure. ‘‘He [Mr Shearer] listened to Grant Robertson. In his heart of hearts from what I could see from David Shearer, he actually wanted to vote for the legislation.’’

The prime minister was on stage in the assembly hall of Masterton’s Rathkeale College when he heard the news that Mr Shearer had stepped aside.

As Mr Key addressed Rathkeale and St Matthew’s Collegiate pupils, Wairarapa MP John Hayes was ‘‘trawling through Stuff on my phone’’ when he saw the news. At that point Mr Key was talking about a life in politics, and mentioned Mr Shearer’s name.

Mr Hayes leaned forward and said to Mr Key: ‘‘He’s gone.’’ Mr Key responded: ‘‘Five minutes is a long time in politics.’’