pn966. The Parties' Standings, National, Labour, ACT, Greens

Christopher Luxon must step up or step down  as National Party leader if National is to win the next election.  This seems to be the opinion of of both left- and right-leaning commentators reported by Bryce Edwards in today's Political Roundup. Opinion is that he should be replaced  by his high performing deputy Nicola Willis. But the problem could be more than Luxton. National needs to flesh out its policies. It is not sufficient to say what it thinks Labour is doing wrong.  It needs to spell out what it would do instead.

The recent NZ Taxpayers' Union Curia poll (2-9 February) showed both major parties on 34.3% (Labour up  +2.7%; National down -2.8%) with Greens on 7.8%, down -2.8%, and ACT on 11.7, up +0.9.  The Greens seem to be losing support to Labour and ACT gaining support from National.  With these results National-ACT would win just enough seats to form the next government.  

pn589. National's line-up, a shadow of its former self, and Education is bottom of the heap

It's a much smaller shadow cabinet line up than last time (click here), with National lacking numbers and strength after its election losses.  The appointment of Shane Reti as Deputy Leader is a welcome sign but the relegation of Paul Goldsmith from 4th to 12th, where he picks up Education, seems to say more about National's priorities, with Education at the bottom of the heap,  than it does about Goldsmith's previous shortcomings in Finance.   

It is pleasing to note that Labour places Education far higher, with Minister Chris Hipkins fifth in Cabinet, with two assistant Ministers to boot.

For Labour's Cabinet line-up, see pn584.

-- ACW

pn587. Worthy but woeful, Labour's plans for the future

Rod Oram in Newsroom argues:

The government's plans are woefully generic, worthy but geared to incremental improvement. They will ease the pain of Covid and help us achieve a modest recovery. But they won’t build our prosperous and sustainable future.  Click here to read the full article

See also Susan St George on bureaucratic blocks to welfare reform.

pn583. Summarising two opposing interpretations of the Labour + Greens agreement

 

1. Martyn Bradbury in The Daily Blog 1.11.20

Labour + Greens. Close to 60% of parliamentary seats ... and they still can't be transformative

As the climate crisis events explode over the next 3 years, as welfare reform goes no where, as housing stagnates, as poverty spreads, the Greens will sit alongside Labour like a parasitic twin unable to think for itself let alone change things.