Politics and Prose

Predictably, Jim Anderton has decided to “go into coalition” with Labour on the Opposition benches.  Good, he’ll be as irreverent there as he was in Government.

Jim Anderton, who was agriculture minister, will be the Opposition coalition agriculture spokesperson on behalf of both parties.

“Before the election, we said we would only enter government in partnership with Labour. We couldn’t support National because we won’t work with parties that are likely to increase poverty, that try to sell publicly-owned strategic assets, that increase unemployment, or that fail to take care of our most vulnerable citizens.”

What humours me is that Anderton still speaks with the authority of a deputy prime minister; as if he’s forgotten that he is the only MP in his party, of which only recieved 0.89 per cent of the party vote.  His role as MP for Wigram may be a constant thrill to him but as an MP (and an opposition one at that) his influence over NZ politics has hit an all time low - and that is saying something.

I’m surprised the Progressives Party still exists.  I would have thought the party would have been dismantled and absorbed by Labour.  We can only hope.