In which John Key plays the part of the scarecrow and David Shearer the cowardly lion
Read MoreDavid Shearer
Leftie strategerizing
Political strategy need not be an entirely fact-challenged zone.
Read MoreScandals and sideshows, sleaze and slurs
Autumn has become a season of scandals and sideshows – John Key’s casino-convention centre “scandal”, the Banks-Dotcom donation “scandal”, the sideshow of the mythical David Shearer leadership challenge – all soon to be wiped away by the start of the main game: the defining Budget of 2012.
Read MoreDavid Shearer steps out – says a lot & not much
The new Labour boss has read the public mood well by putting his name to limits on foreign ownership, but is playing his cards close to his chest on the policies that will define the first chapter of his leadership. So what policies are for the chop?
Read MoreGreens growth: The political maths of the centre-left
If the Greens thought the past three years were challenging, just wait for the next three. They – and Labour – need to figure out a new way of growing the centre-left bloc without tearing each other to pieces
Read MoreLessons from a recount – where Labour went wrong
Labour failed to learn National's lesson from 2002 and paid the price, so it's now time for the party to get start selling Brand Shearer
Read MoreDavid Shearer's fresh start – 1) Keep it real
The election is over, so the work begins. Labour has its new face in David Shearer, but now has a mountain to climb to win 5-10% of National's voters over to its side (and a few back from the Greens). So how does it do that?
Read MoreLabour's leader: TV, weaknesses & the Obama factor
The battle for the Labour leadership was first waged in caucus (Shearer), then on TV (Cunliffe). This week it moves to the regions as remains tight. So who does John Key fear most? And why do I keep thinking of Obama & Clinton?
Read MoreHe's Goff and he's off -- so who's next?
So the names for the Labour leadership are now in the hat. The caucus has a decent buffet to choose from, but need to remember it's not all about them
Read MoreLabour's list not diverse enough... and lessons from '93
Labour's list deserves scrutiny and poses questions - just not the ones raised by Damien O'Connor
Read MoreWhy Phil Goff is safe... and from whom
The Labour leader has shown his sincerity over the Hughes case, but was he wise? How safe is his leadership? And where oh where was the plan?
Read MoreMount Albert–reading the weathervane
Labour should not over-egg its victory in
Nightmare on New North Road
John Key was anywhere but New North Rd on Saturday. For National's leader, Melissa Lee's post-by-election wake in the heart of Mt Albert held all the attraction of a swine flu support group
Read MoreMt Albert – the nearest place to Hell
At the best of times, by-elections are never pretty. These are not the best of times, and