He built this mess and now he wallows in it. His blanket denials could unravel him, especially if proof emerges. Recall my cardinal political rule: explaining is losing.
There will be more to come on this. Jade Paul has not resiled from her accusations. Hipkins has offered no defence. Only denial.
Nathan is a Christian advocate for free speech, civil liberties and rights to privacy, and a strong believer in a public square that is moderate, reasonable and transparent.
Stuff does not give a toss that they have had to correct the record or that every other outlet is now laughing at them. The damage was done the moment the original story dropped. Most casual readers will never see the quiet little update at the top.
Until Hipkins finds the guts to say sorry properly, Labour can forget about regaining trust from the city that suffered most. Aucklanders remember the trauma.
Just remember Chris Hipkins and the Labour Party need Te Pāti Māori to form a government. Imagine the shemozzle that will create.
Voters are going to go into the election with National doing the same as it always does. They will tell voters that they are less shit than Labour. But are they?
The only thing that will force real change is a catastrophic election result that rinses both National and Labour. That looks unlikely right now. Voters are grumpy but they are also stuck in old habits.
Talk of a coup exists only in the feeble minds of legacy media. Luxon will hang on in quiet desperation, getting regular coaching from John Key, like he did last Friday, until Key nods at a proposed successor.
