Goodbye winter; welcome to spring!

Yes, it's officially the first day of spring! I don't know what the weather was like where you were at the weekend, but here, the sun shone for the bulk of both days, the first such weekend since...ah, the last such weekend, which was so long ago, I can't remember when!

Anyway, here's a couple of stories from Stuff that typify the change of seasons. The winter is represented by Martin Kay's story telling of "blood on the floor" at the Labour list selection, saying:

As many as seven sitting Labour MPs - including two ministers - have been dumped into unwinnable list spots unless the Government engineers a dramatic turnaround by election night.

The brutal list ranking announced yesterday abandons Labour's previous policy of protecting sitting MPs with winnable slots and could see blood on the floor after it strengthened the arm of Labour's left-wing, socially progressive faction over its more conservative right-wing rump.

An interesting choice of words there Martin - does "conservative right-wing rump" have anything to do with the cut of steak that Phil Goff has been BBQ'ing over the weekend?

Meanwhile, the promise of spring is always new life after a bleak winter, and John Key confirms that in this NZPA piece - there will be NO deal with Winston Peters:

National Party leader John Key has ruled out working with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters post-election altogether and says opponents are wrong to suggest that would change if he was struggling to form a government.

Mr Peters' party is being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office over questions how donated money was spent and Parliament's privileges committee is looking at whether rules were broken regarding an undeclared $100,000 donation from billionaire Owen Glenn.

Last week Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen said Mr Key had given himself a wriggle out clause by saying unless Mr Peters could give credible answers to questions swirling around him he would not work with Mr Peters.

Today Dr Cullen criticised Mr Key for his hardened position, saying he was disregarding natural justice and not letting inquiries finish before passing judgement.

"John Key's stance shows that he has no respect for basic New Zealand values of fair play," Dr Cullen said.

Mr Key said that the bar he set for who he would work with was higher than if they were cleared by investigations or not.

"I have to have confidence in them and confidence in their word. The sheer weight of allegations and the actions of Mr Peters in the last few months means that I have lost that confidence in him."

Mr Key ruled out having Mr Peters as a minister, forming a coalition with his party or entering any kind of support arrangement with NZ First.

"The lot. . . we have categorically ruled him out altogether."

I think that "categorically" sets out National's position!! And to carry on the "seasonal" analogy - if you enjoy the dim, dark days of winter, a vote for the Labour/NZ First ticket should be right up your alley!