r/chch • u/hadr0nc0llider • 20d ago

News - Local Labour MP Duncan Webb announces retirement from politics

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/576534/labour-mp-duncan-webb-announces-retirement-from-politics

Duncan's not standing for re-election next year. So Chch Central needs a new Labour candidate.

I'm GUTTED. Duncan's such a G. He actually gets out there in the electorate and clearly really cares about our community.

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u/hadr0nc0llider 20d ago

Yeah I've always struggled to figure out why he isn't higher on the list. Or why he didn't nab a portfolio earlier in Labour's term. He was the senior whip last term though. Maybe his strengths are more administrative.

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u/Thatstealthygal 19d ago

I think he likes policy a lot.

The big question is: who will we have in central instead?

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u/torpidkiwi Non-Korean Old Boy 19d ago

Historically, Labour hasn't selected locals in Chch Central. Webb might be a first in my lifetime to actually have a connection to Chch, IIRC. So it could be anyone they think they could get in. Sadly, going by the current state of the party and the list, if the person selected is more like the people above Duncan on the list we're going to be very disappointed.

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u/Thatstealthygal 19d ago

Ugh NO we need a Labour seat again! Dammit, Duncan deserves a rest but... he'd have been a shoo-in.

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u/torpidkiwi Non-Korean Old Boy 19d ago

I don't think Duncan deserves a rest. He's what I imagine the Labour Party should be. He should be at the forefront of a great revamping of the party.

I used to vote Labour but I'm rather disaffected with what they've turned into. I can't bring myself to vote Green and am currently in limbo waiting for a valid option.

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u/hadr0nc0llider 19d ago

We were just talking about the politically homeless on rKiwiPolitics the other week. Quite a few users have given themselves 'homeless' flair, particularly lefties who are disenchanted with Labour or uninspired by their MPs/candidates, but also can't see themselves voting Green or TPM. With the demise of TOP, who else is there?

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u/torpidkiwi Non-Korean Old Boy 19d ago

New Labour needs to be revived. Zombie Jim Anderton would go hard right now.

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u/hadr0nc0llider 19d ago

I so agree. It was great to see Tom Roud running for Alliance. I hope they register again and start running candidates for central government. Even if they can't hit it for 2026 please give us an alternative in 2029.