What the Leaders Say - Part Four

Reading Between the Lines - part 4

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 fourth post in a series of blogs presenting the information.

Here is what they had to say on the issues facing the Labour Party.

What are the issues facing the Labour Party?

Grant Robertson

Like many of you, I heard the message on the doorstep that some New Zealanders had lost their connection to us. Building on our values we have to re-assert our purpose, and be consistent, bold and clear in standing up for all New Zealanders.

David Parker

We must look outwards not inwards.

Andrew Little

We are a party of immensely talented people. But right now we're working as individuals, not as a collective movement. We must fix this. We can.

We have to get our house in order. Because if we don't then all we have is a bunch of good intentions gone to waste.We need to fix the machine. We need to bring the pieces of the Labour movement back together and focus them on winning government and making changes we need to to build a fair society.

Nanaia Mahuta

Since 2005 our Party vote has steadily declined. We are not inspiring the confidence of voters and the serious perception is that we must do more to connect with New Zealanders and the issues that are important to them.

Reading between the lines

I find it reassuring that the Leadership Candidates clearly identify the key issues facing the Labour Party. Many of the reasons New Zealand is such an amazing country to live in, is due to policies implemented by Labour Governments. Our country still needs us. There is still work to be done. Before we can work for New Zealand, we need to make sure we are working together. Each candidate makes valid points about the issues facing the Labour Party in 2014, yet more importantly, what are they are going to do to fix it?  

My next blog post will examine how the candidates will address the issues facing the Labour Party.

#informeddecision