Staff to blame for Shearer’s exit - Nash
Shearer's ex chief-of-staff weighs in.
David Shearer’s chief-of-staff Fran Mold is partly to blame for his downfall, says former Labour MP Stuart Nash.
Speaking on TV3’s The Nation, Mr Nash said the Shearer office had used the wrong strategy, meaning Mr Shearer didn’t rise in the polls as the caucus wanted.
Mr Shearer’s performance in the polls eventually led to his resignation last week.
“I actually think Fran Mold needs to put up her hand and say, look, maybe I didn’t do things as well as I could have in terms of media relations.”
Mr Nash – who also served as Mr Shearer’s chief-of-staff for two months – said Mr Shearer needed to have travelled the country, giving every New Zealander the opportunity to meet him.
“This isn’t rocket science, this isn’t the first time this has been said.
“This is what every leader in New Zealand and across the Western world does if they want to be Prime Minister, President, you name it.
”They get out and they meet the people and they find out what the real issues are.”
An openly dysfunctional caucus also undermined Mr Shearer’s leadership, said Mr Nash.
NBR staff
Sun, 25 Aug 2013
Sun, 25 Aug 2013
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Staff to blame for Shearer’s exit - Nash
31808