Prime Minister Bill English has responded to having his personality compared to that of a rock by Labour’s deputy leader — saying the party’s new positive approach under Jacinda Ardern ‘‘lasted about three days’’.
‘‘And the reason is because Labour is still Labour. They have always had a pretty negative, limited view about what can be achieved in New Zealand. We have a positive view,’’ Mr English told media after his party’s transport announcement in Auckland.
‘‘We are very happy to be campaigning in a context where they are trying to make cracks about people’s personal characteristics, and we are getting on with underpinning a great future for New Zealand.’’
Labour’s new deputy leader, Kelvin Davis, appeared along with Ms Ardern on TVNZ’s Q+A programme yesterday morning.
Ms Ardern again said she wanted her campaign to reflect ‘‘relentless optimism’’, but Davis was happy to take some pot shots at National.
‘‘Everything has changed. The vibe has changed. The momentum has changed. The energy has changed. The election has changed,’’ Mr Davis, the MP for Te Tai Tokerau, said.
‘‘We all know about the Jacinda effect — pure optimism. When we look over at the other side there and we see a Prime Minister with the personality of a rock.
‘‘We have got Jonathan Coleman, the doctor of death; we have got Steven Joyce, who is as authentic as a $4 Rolex; we’ve got Gerry Brownlee, who has got the energy of a small hill; we’ve got Simon Bridges, the only person under 80 who still buys Brylcreem; and Judith Collins — look, her stare caused that ice shelf in Antarctica to crack off and float away.’’
Mr Davis also compared the National Party to dandruff, and compared Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett to Lynn of Tawa, the 1970s character invented by comedian Ginette McDonald.
Mr English said he was not offended by the comments but they were negative and cynical. Transport Minister Simon Bridges added his own rebuttal: ‘‘I don’t use Brylcreem. I’m just saying.’’
Speaking after her own transport announcement, Ms Ardern was asked how Mr Davis’ comments squared with her vow to be relentlessly positive.
‘‘Kelvin is a straight-talking MP. We are focused on our campaign and running a positive campaign. But at the same time, Kelvin is his own person — I’m not here to stifle his views. We are a team,’’ she said.
‘‘He is a free talker and a straight talker . . . you wouldn’t want us to be one homogenous bunch.’’
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Unfortunately Mr Davis just blew it. I was feeling positive about aspects of the Labour leadership change but it is the same old name calling nastiness w
e have come to expect from some of the left of the political divide groups.
Bill English is quite right when he states "Labours new positive approach under Jacinda Ardern ‘‘lasted about three days" It now appears to be a new jockey on a dead horse.