Whangarei’s Labour Party MP is standing down after one term in the job.
Emily Henderson said she did not expect to win the seat that had been “blue” for 45 years - saying it was a shock. When reflecting on her three years she commented,
“the space for constructive debate and the ability to tolerate opposing views amongst the public – and especially in the toxic swamp of social media – has changed significantly.
These aren’t normal times…the temptation to divide in order to rule is clearly present and it is a danger….
We need a politics that has more respect for the people it serves…”
There is no question New Zealand is a much more divided society now than it was in 2020. What is remarkable about the comments is that they were made by someone who clearly has no comprehension that it is Labour’s policies and lack of empathy for those with an opposing view that has caused the “toxic” division.
Is it any surprise those who have been denied a voice or ignored when they did dare to speak, are reaching for the rotten fruit? Is it any surprise that social media has become more "toxic" when it's the only channel they have available to vent their frustrations and anger? What does she expect from the 60,000 people who made submissions opposing Three Waters, but were ignored by Labour.
Is Emily so out of touch with reality that she thinks these people are going to roll over like a pet poodle and ask for a tummy rub from their do-as-I-say master?
Is it any surprise Labour MPs are getting an earful when they come door-knocking pleading for our vote?
Is it any surprise Labour's vote has collapsed and half of their MPs are going to get tossed out of office, that's if they, like Emily, have not seen the writing on the wall and resigned with their credibility intact rather than get booted out in a humiliating defeat.
Logic would suggest that any organisation that loses half of its support would look in a mirror and ask who is the problem here.
While the makeup of the next Parliament is still in doubt, there is no doubt that the Whangarei electorate will become blue again, as will many other electorate seats that Labour unexpectedly won in 2020.
