Garth George: Looking out for No 1 at the heart of new government

So now we have what passes in this country for a Government - and a more ill-assorted collection of cobbled-together compromisers would be hard to imagine.

They all tell us they have made their decisions "in the interests of stable government" and "for the good of the country" but anyone who takes that as gospel needs a lesson in politics, to learn that Rule No 1 in politics is Look Out For No 1.

Don Brash has called this a Clayton's coalition - the coalition you have when you don't have a coalition - a "dog's breakfast" which, I think, is being a bit hard on pet-food manufacturers.

It certainly could have been worse. We could have been saddled with a Government in which the goofy Greens had a bigger say than heretofore, but instead they have been effectively sidelined - shafted, as John Armstrong puts it - and that alone is cause for celebration.

Another good thing about Labour coming to an arrangement with New Zealand First and United Future is that it will keep Government policy centred and largely neutralise Labour's left wing.

Which means that anti-social legislation, the like of which we were subjected to against our wills in the last Parliament, won't even get a look in. So those of us who fear for society can breathe a big sigh of relief.

You sure have to hand it to Helen Clark. What a superb political negotiator she is to bring together such diverse, often opposing, factions into a somewhat loose-knit but nevertheless viable Government.

It is only to be hoped that her management skills, which up to now have been pretty much based on "Do what you're told", can be extended to keep under control such a recalcitrant player as Winston Peters.

She will have no trouble with puppy-dog Peter Dunne, who has been sitting on the political fence for so long that he, rather than Bob Clarkson, should be concerned about the state of his testicles.

I must say I welcome Mr Peters into the Government and stand to gain from concessions he has extracted from Labour. I speak, of course, as a pensioner. While the increase in the pension rate has been reduced to the minuscule, his proposal for a pensioners' card might be worthwhile if it carries the sort of benefits available to the elderly in Australia. I am not, however, holding my breath.

For all his timidity, the proximity of Mr Dunne to the mingy Michael Cullen could well prevent any further tax grabs by the new Administration and might even encourage the Minister of Finance to loosen his purse strings. Once again, I'm not holding my breath.

You can't blame Mr Peters for grabbing the opportunity to be Foreign Minister. He is, after all, getting on in years and must take account of his future.

A term as Foreign Minister could well set him up for a post-Parliament ambassadorship; and he will have plenty of opportunity to suck up to overseas politicians and bureaucrats with an eye to a job later with an international agency.

He will be only too aware that his decision to go with Labour will probably spell the end of the party he founded, for the backlash from his constituency will, I suspect, be vicious. Add to that the resurgence of National, and the future of NZ First is in grave doubt.

Mr Peters lost his seat in this year's election; he is likely to lose his party in the next. Since he is no fool, he has done what needed to be done to ensure his survival in the only game he really knows - politics.

In the meantime, the chauffeur-driven limousines, the frequent overseas trips, the pomp and the ceremony will suit Mr Peters to a T - and, incidentally, keep him out of Labour's hair often enough to bring some relief. Ms Clark no doubt had that well in mind when she tossed him the carrot.

Those who object to his appointment because of his spot-on stance on immigration can take a running jump. His appointment is not an insult to New Zealand and if it causes potential immigrants to go someplace else, then we'll happily manage without them, thanks.

As for National: the main opposition party, resupplied, revived, rearmed and thus reinvigorated, has never had a better chance to wrest back the levers of power from the sticky fingers of the socialists.

Don Brash and his team are beholden to an electorate that came within an ace of returning his party to its proper place in the scheme of things - the natural party of Government - to ensure that the opposition turns in the sort of performance that will make National a sure thing in 2008.

He has the numbers, the talent, and the time, and he had better use all of that boldly, imaginatively and mercilessly if he is to restore National to its former mana. Is he up to it? Only time will tell.

But he should be well aware that now he has in his parliamentary party a number of men and women of huge and proven talent and experience and that if he falls down on the job there will surely be some bright bugger ready and willing to step into his shoes.