Labour leader Andrew Little would not have had to look far for reasons to be positive when he addressed his party's two-day caucus meeting yesterday.
The easiest decision would have been which good news not to raise: the latest opinion poll showing his personal approval ratings to be the highest for Labour since Helen Clark; there are too many ex-leaders in the meeting for that. Other MPs could mention it if they wished.
For Mr Little, Labour's party rating being up three percentage points in both the Herald-Digipoll from December and the current TV3 survey is one potential talking point. In some ways a bounce is to be expected after the dire election night result of just 25 per cent of the vote and, in both the latest polls, National rose as well.
A better omen is the stunning result in Queensland's state election, where Labor recovered from a drubbing in 2012 of apocalyptic proportions to be on the cusp of government once undecided seats are declared. The likely defeat for the Liberal-Nationals made our Labour Party's failure look benign. The factors in the demise of Campbell Newman and his Government will also cheer Labour here. The electorate turned against asset sales, a shrinking of the public service and further measures of austerity.
The capacity for an electoral swing of such magnitude in a like-minded neighbour must inspire Labour MPs in their quest to evict John Key and National in the space of one term with Mr Little as their leader. Parties written off as dead can and do return to government as the electorate's mood changes, albeit with our MMP system tempering voter reaction against the incumbent. Self-satisfied Governments can be found out, vulnerable before their pollsters realise the tide is turning.
