English. The man with the plan.

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 100 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification

Forums › Politics › English. The man with the plan.

gzt

15199 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#224110 2-Nov-2017 21:17

English indicates he will not be leading a constructive opposition. That's how I read it:

NZHerald:English: "You should expect more tension and more pressure in the Parliament, and particularly through the select committee process. Because we are the dominant select committee party," English said.

"And that is going to make a difference to how everything runs - it's not our job to make this place run for an incoming Government that is a minority.

"You will get to understand that it is a minority Government with a majority Opposition, and the Greens as the support party. That is how we are going to run it...we have no obligation to smooth [Labour's] path. None whatsoever."

Factually he's exactly right. No obligation.

1 | 2

2051 posts

Uber Geek

#1894460 2-Nov-2017 21:59

No but saying that it is a minority government is delusional. National do not have more seats than the government - 3rd time lucky Bill...

Lenovo

Lenovo computer and accessories deals (affiliate link).

Rikkitic

Awrrr
17235 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1894476 2-Nov-2017 23:52

Seems a little mean-spirited to me. Isn't it the duty of a loyal opposition to work in the best interests of the country? I should think that would include smoothing the way for Labour when the experience and knowledge of the other party can help serve the national interest. Being in opposition means holding the government to account. It does not mean doing everything possible to trip the government up.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1894477 2-Nov-2017 23:59

Can't see Bill E being opposition leader very long. So - can't say I care what he says.

MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1894481 3-Nov-2017 01:03

Fred99: Can't see Bill E being opposition leader very long. So - can't say I care what he says.

Why has he 'promoted' Judith Collins to his 'front bench?' I wonder if it's to keep her quiet and compliant, and to avoid (as long as possible) her leadership challenge?

MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1894482 3-Nov-2017 01:12

gzt: English indicates he will not be leading a constructive opposition. That's how I read it:

NZHerald:English: "You should expect more tension and more pressure in the Parliament, and particularly through the select committee process. Because we are the dominant select committee party," English said.

"And that is going to make a difference to how everything runs - it's not our job to make this place run for an incoming Government that is a minority.

"You will get to understand that it is a minority Government with a majority Opposition, and the Greens as the support party. That is how we are going to run it...we have no obligation to smooth [Labour's] path. None whatsoever."

Factually he's exactly right. No obligation.

He's just doing a Muldoon... And, IMHO trying to make himself look the 'strong leader' the National party needs for the leadership challenges he'll be facing soon...

JayADee

2091 posts

Uber Geek

#1894485 3-Nov-2017 02:51

I wasn't impressed by that. How about putting the country first?

shk292

2692 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1894547 3-Nov-2017 09:12

JayADee: I wasn't impressed by that. How about putting the country first?

Surely, if he genuinely thinks that a Labour/NZF policy would be bad for the country, then his duty "to put the country first" is to do anything he can to obstruct or amend legislation which is being introduced to implement that policy. That is, "oppose" it - the role of the opposition.

I don't mean say everything the government says is bad just because they said it (cf Andrew Little) - I'm sure National will support TPP11 provided Labour don't do anything stupid to it, and I'm sure they'll support the Kermadec sanctuary.

amiga500

1484 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1894550 3-Nov-2017 09:15

Bill English looks more relaxed & happy than when as PM. He already has an exit date in mind - he just hasn't told anyone yet.

MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1894600 3-Nov-2017 10:04

amiga500:

Bill English looks more relaxed & happy than when as PM. He already has an exit date in mind - he just hasn't told anyone yet.

He's trying to 'hang on' as long as possible IOW.

gzt

15199 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1895007 3-Nov-2017 22:56

itxtme:
No but saying that it is a minority government is delusional. National do not have more seats than the government - 3rd time lucky Bill...

Saying it is a minority government is exactly factually correct.

The formal coalition is a minority in the house.

The green party is not part of the coalition. The green party has agreed to vote in favour of the government on confidence motions and supply.

Rikkitic

Awrrr
17235 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1895016 4-Nov-2017 00:06

How can the Green party not be part of the coalition if they have Ministers in the government, even thought they are 'outside' cabinet? I'm not arguing the point, I just don't understand how it works.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

itxtme

2051 posts

Uber Geek

#1895097 4-Nov-2017 00:59

Ok you are correct on the technicality, but to disrupt the government he needs to get the support of either the greens or NZ first. From what he has said there he is going to make select committees crawl to a stand stall - madness. From what Adern has and is putting into action right now it is pretty clear National in opposition will be as effective as Labour and the Greens have been for the last 9 years, not very.

I think it would be fair to argue that the policies that have come out of forming this government are the most interesting display of MMP since its inception. It will be an interesting 3 years :)

gzt

15199 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1895205 4-Nov-2017 13:43

Rikkitic: How can the Green party not be part of the coalition if they have Ministers in the government, even thought they are 'outside' cabinet?

Good question. I think it's likely that Peters did not want the greens in Cabinet. I don't know the answer. It's equally possible the greens did not want Cabinet responsibility for some of NZFirst's policies. Ultimately it may boil down to that's what Labour offered and the greens accepted. At the end of the day the arrangement has advantages for all parties.

itxtme

2051 posts

Uber Geek

#1895895 6-Nov-2017 11:46

Looks like National just scored an own goal with select committees now looking to drop the number of participants.

Earlier this year, the standing orders committee, which included National, recommended the number of select committee places be reduced

"And ultimately Bill English was out there on Friday saying the National Opposition was going to use the select committee process to grind the Government's legislation to a halt," Hipkins said.

bmt

574 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1896455 6-Nov-2017 22:30

Haha I had a good chuckle at that this morning. I think everybody can see through Simon Bridge's hypocrisy here. Made their own bed, time to lie in it. Someone probably should have reminded Bill English about this before he spouted off about making this difficult.. probably a bit embarrassed now.

1 | 2