Richard Long ends his parting shot in Dominion Post by telling Labour to take it easy on David Shearer.
. . . He’s got what the public relations people describe as the ideal “legend” to make an outstanding Labour leader. He’s also doing better than Helen Clark in Opposition: her polling was in margin-of-error territory. Give the man a break.
What he hasn’t got is traction with the public nor any significant runs on the board against the government.
But Rob Hosking points out no-one else in his caucus has done much either.
. . . And while Mr Shearer’s performance has been somewhat ill-starred, look at the rest of the caucus.
Few have managed any substantial hits on the government. . .
. . . It can be argued Mr Shearer should be judged by the same standard he set his MPs, and by that standard there is no doubt too many opportunities have gone begging.
On the eve of Labour’s annual conference later this week, the party’s question is whether any of the alternatives could do any better.
On recent performance the answer to that question would be no.
