pn571. NZ Labour's One Chance

Former United Future Ohariu MP Peter Dunn argues that Labour, despite —or perhaps because of—  its huge election victory, is "hemmed in" and limited to policies of "incremental" rather than "transformative" change.  His reasoning is that Labour must not lean too left towards the Greens or it will lose the new support it has gained from the right, from those who previously voted National. 

There is, of course, merit in this argument but what Dunn does not say is

that the Labour left  and the Greens are its core supporters, voters it would only lose if they became so dispirited that they did not vote at all.  

Its new right support is far more fickle. Most of it will return to National once Covid is no longer a threat and when that party gets its act in order again. This will happen whatever Labour does. Labour will only please them by "not doing"; almost anything it "does" will lose their support, unless it uses the next three years steering them towards more egalitarian values.

If this contention is correct, Labour would be well advised to re-examine its core values, focus on educating and mobilising public support to protect the environment and reduce inequalities (lasting change cannot be imposed top-down), while speeding up the incremental changes and engaging in at least somethings  transformative.  It may not get this chance again for many years.  

-- ACW 

P.S.  Or it could perhaps focus on the incremental this term, hope to be reelected in 2023, and make transformative changes then.  

Related reading. 

Max Rashbrooke. A very important  TED video "We need to reset democracy" for transitional change.

Chris Trotter on the need for grassroots struggle

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