Labour Now a Moribund Party with Limited Future

Monday 3 Dec 2001 Ken Shirley Press Releases -- Governance & Constitution

Labour Party conferences have reached an all-time low when interjecting party members have to be forcibly removed, says ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and former Labour MP and Minister, Ken Shirley.

"The Labour Party has been renowned over many decades for its vigorous debates at conferences where strong personalities from all factions clashed. The party's strength was based on the creative tension associated with an important contest of ideas.

"It's clear from the conference in Auckland at the weekend that the party has been reduced to a sad sycophantic bunch who are there meekly to absorb and applaud the staged-managed spin emanating from party leaders.

"A Labour Party devoid of vigorous debate at conference is a moribund party with a limited future. It is sad to see this once proud and vigorous party adopting this conservative mantle. No doubt this new style suits the control and command tendencies of Helen Clark but the Labour Party over time will suffer greatly from its lack of vigorous debate, " Mr Shirley said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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