Editorial: Green Party peaks as flag bill upstages Key

Labour Party leader Andrew Little in Tauranga. Photo / George Novak

Grumbles from Labour, whose lacklustre support for the extra referendum option is seen as too Little, too late.

Labour leader Andrew Little was badly shown up by the Greens this week.

Both of them wanted "Red Peak" in the flag referendum but only one of them was willing to accept John Key's invitation to put a bill before Parliament that National could support. Mr Little was still playing politics, or as our political editor, Audrey Young, put it, "outraged by a process that isn't outrageous".

The Greens simply went ahead, put up a bill and the Government ensured that it passed. The Greens not only did the right thing, they received an unexpected political bonus when the news reports presented the deal as another backdown or flip-flop on the part of Mr Key.

It was in fact a win for him and the Greens. They get the kudos, he gets a popular option into the referendum.

Every vote for Red Peak, whether it wins or not, is one less non-vote and it is the non-vote that could do most harm to the Prime Minister's flag-change project.

Not only does Red Peak bring young enthusiasts into the movement for change, it brings in the Greens and at least one prominent Labour MP, Jacinda Ardern, who is being touted as a leadership contender. That means Mr Little probably has to find more enthusiasm for the exercise too.

Too many Opposition Leaders think their role requires relentless negativity. They need to raise their sights and make a positive contribution when given the chance.

The Greens did so, leaving Labour with little to do but grumble.