What the Leaders Say - Part Two

Reading Between the Lines - part 2 

Grant Robertson, Nanaia Mahuta, Andrew Little and David Parker

In recent weeks the Labour Party Leadership Candidates have sent emails to all party members, asking for their support in the leadership race. David Parker, Andrew Little, Nanaia Mahuta and Grant Robertson outlined their views on issues facing Labour and how they would address these issues if they were elected leader.

In order to make an informed decision I have looked at the information included in their emails and grouped it into five headings:

• Why are they standing for leader
• What does the Labour Party mean to them
• What experience do they have
• What are the issues facing the Labour Party 
• How would they address the issues facing the Labour Party

This is the second post in a series of blogs presenting the information.

Here is what they had to say on what the Labour Party means to them.

What does the Labour Party mean to you?

Andrew Little

Labour is the party that was built by working Kiwis for working Kiwis. We are still that party.

Nanaia Mahuta

I have long believed that Labour is a Party of aspiration and opportunity. We all have a Labour story that connects us to our working class roots and the opportunities that have emerged from applying our values of a fair and decent society where all people can climb the ladder of opportunity, and where we support growth for more people in an equal society.

Grant Robertson

I'm proud of the core values of our party to give everyone a fair go, the opportunity to make the most of their potential and the obligation to look after each other.

David Parker

David Parker didn't specifically outline what Labour means to him.

Reading between the lines, I think it is telling the way in which the candidates describe what the Labour Party means to them. Andrew Little succinctly describes the Labour Party in a couple of lines that could easily be a sound bite or a slogan. For me, this characterises Andrew Little, he knows Labour, he believes in Labour and he articulates it clearly.

Nanaia Mahuta has plenty of heart and her rhetoric is firmly rooted in Labour's historical base which appeals to me. However, I feel, at times, her message gets lost in the delivery.

Grant Robertson is articulate and says the right things but has a tendency to sound too corporate and a bit light.

David Parker didn't specifically describe what Labour means to him in his email which summarises a key issue for me. He comes across as competent but dry.

Ideally, I want the Labour leader to embody all these characteristics and attributes. 

My next blog post will examine what experience the candidates have to lead the Labour Party.

#informeddecision