Retiring isn’t a word that fits Shane Jones and in the wake of his retirement from parliament he’s being anything but retiring.
Take a look at the list of stories on Jones and Labour in Dr Bryce Edwards’ Politics Daily.
Shane Jones and the Labour Party
Dave Armstrong (Stuff): Jones departure deals a painful blow to Labour
Michael Fox (Stuff): Labour reels in Jones’ wake
Tim Watkin (Pundit): Time running out for Labour
Vernon Small (Stuff): Church collapsed? Buy a house
John Armstrong: Labour’s brutal week reveals Achilles heel
Claire Trevett (Herald): Keeping up without Jones
TVNZ: Shane Jones reflects on life as a Labour MP
TVNZ: Labour strongest it’s been in a long time – party president
Jonathan Milne (Herald): Jones: ‘The right man in the wrong party’
Herald: Editorial: Labouring under false impressions
Deborah Mahuta-Coyle (Herald): Maori votes worth courting
Fran O’Sullivan (Herald): Labour hopes money policy will deflect focus from Jones
NBR: Labour Party President says the Party is strongest it’s been ‘in a long time’
Rodney Hide (Herald): Reverse racism fails to raise ire
Ross Henderson (Stuff): Jones sells out to the capitalists
Taranaki Daily Times: Editorial – Labour treads water as Jones jumps ship
Michele Hewitson (Herald): Interview: Jacinda Ardern
ODT: Editorial – Narrowing focus for Labour
NBR: Shane Jones farewells Labour, rejects ‘Green Gospel’
David Farrar (Kiwiblog):Jones says Greens are anti-industry
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Labour’s woes
Fundamentally useless: Only Robertson can go to the centre
The Standard: The strength of the left: working together…
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Why Shane Jones won’t matter on September 20th and why Labour need to start talking about their first 100 days
John Sargeant (Stuff): Forget Jones, remember Jesus
Michael Cummings (Stuff): Editorial: Lessons from Jones’ departure
Nelson Mail: Editorial: Flawed MP leaves Labour in a pickle
Radio NZ: PSA sees political interference in Jones’ appointment
Isaac Davison (Herald): Parting shot undignified way to exit, says Turei
Jane Patterson (Radio NZ): Power play
Stephen Franks: The loss of Shane Jones is real for all of us
Danyl Mclauchlan (Dim-Post): The Beatification of St Jonesy
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Whare of Cards – It’s a shame that Shane sold out to keep up with the Joneses
Claire Trevett (Herald): Revealed: Shane Jones’ secret fear
Scott Yorke (Imperator Fish): This is treason, sirs!
Toby Manhire (Herald): RE: Shane – tsunami in the parliamentary pond
Josie Pagani (Pundit): Here’s what a real bloke sounds like
Tim Selwyn (Tumeke): Shane Jones Nationalised
Jane Clifton (Listener): Mr Untouchable
Ben Clark (The Standard): Politics bruises even Shane Jones
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Jones cites Greens influence as factor in departure
Herald: Turei: Jones ‘won’t be missed’
No Right Turn: An FPP politician in an MMP world
Matthew Dallas (Stuff): Jones’ kiss-off leaves sour taste
Newstalk ZB: Turei shrugs off Jones’ criticism
Claire Trevett (Herald): Cunning McCully’s king hit neutralises Jones
Greg Presland (The Standard): Labour and the working class
Radio NZ: ‘Harder job’ after Jones’ departure
Simon Prast (Daily Blog): A Big Hole
Rachel Morton (TV3): Shane Jones: Greens are anti-industry
NBR Staff (NBR): Greens too anti-industry — Shane Jones
Corazon Millar (Newstalk ZB): Greens take the high road over insults
Martyn Bradbury (Daily Blog): Whare of Cards – It’s a shame that Shane sold out to keep up with the Joneses
Sparrowhawk: ANZAC day, Shane and Māori leadership: do we really need another bloody hero?
Pete George (Your NZ): Poll pall for Labour after Jones exit
David Farrar (Kiwiblog): Guest Post: Shane Jones, “Heretic Hunting” and Waitakere Man
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): Toxic Greens drove Jones from Labour
Cameron Slater (Whaleoil): Toxic Greens don’t like their reality check
It’s a very long list.
Few if any of those stories reflect well on Labour and none focuses on what matters to voters.
Jones is going, but neither immediately nor quietly..
He’s got a month with nothing to lose and he’s going to make the most of it.
Whether it’s utu, pride or sheer bloody mindedness he’s going to keep on talking and whatever that does for him it will do nothing at all for his party.
While Jones has nothing to lose, Labour has plenty – its chances of winning the election.
Homepaddock 