Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Margaret WIlson as Speaker?!?

Helen Clark has announced that after Jonathon Hunt goes to his long-anticipated wine-and-cheese tour of the UK, his successor will be Margaret Wilson. While Margaret hasn't been all that great as attorney-general, this is a rather public means of dismissal and the prospect of trying to control Rodney Hide, Winston Peters, Gerry Brownlee and Trevor Mallard makes me quake with fear. Given her lack of effectiveness and her potential for gaffes, I'm wondering whether we will see her crash and burn on a regular basis. Due to these considerations, I don't think she'll be acting when the whips drag her to the Speaker's chair.