Written By: - Date published: 12:36 pm, November 28th, 2011 - 171 comments
One can understand why John Key is ‘speed dating” to form a one-seat majority in Parliament. His honeymoon is likely to be a lot shorter in the next term of government. It is quite different for Labour. The caucus would be wise not to rush to decide who leads Labour into the next election.
Written By: - Date published: 1:15 pm, November 27th, 2011 - 31 comments
I’m just back from cleaning up our election day HQ after last night’s party. With apologies to lefties who aren’t feeling too flash today, and with particular sympathies to Labour MPs who didn’t make it back, I had a good election night.
Written By: - Date published: 1:20 pm, November 25th, 2011 - 10 comments
In the end its pretty simple for me. I’m asking you to vote for the Left this election, for 100,000 reasons.
Both Labour and The Greens have policies that will lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, November 25th, 2011 - 13 comments
The parties’ closing addresses screen tonight on TV1 at 7:30pm. Here’s Labour’s – a strong finish to a strong campaign.
Written By: - Date published: 7:35 am, November 24th, 2011 - 39 comments
Last election we had a choice between competent economic management and a bunch of hollow promises. We made a poor choice then, and the record shows that we have wasted three years as a result. Coming up to this election we don’t need more tired Nat excuses, we need solutions. Bring back Labour!
Written By: - Date published: 11:42 am, November 23rd, 2011 - 97 comments
Phil Goff has signed a pledge that Labour will not sell Kiwibank if it becomes government. Other party leaders have been invited as well. I expect the Greens, New Zealand First, Mana, and the Conservatives will (who knows about the Maori Party). But will Key sign? National is secretly itching to sell Kiwibank, Bill English got caught out admitting as much.
Written By: - Date published: 6:42 am, November 21st, 2011 - 152 comments
Phil Goff said yesterday we had “Six days to save our assets” – now we have 5. Here’s what University of Auckland’s economics professor thinks about asset sales, and some more reasons why we desperately need to avoid a National-led government on November 27.
Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, November 20th, 2011 - 57 comments
Written By: - Date published: 1:04 pm, November 16th, 2011 - 34 comments
Now that we’re all over Nice Mr Key, maybe we can focus on minor details like the environment, the economy, assets, and jobs…
Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, November 14th, 2011 - 15 comments
Labour’s fisheries policy will phase-in a requirement for fishing vessels to be at least 50% Kiwi-crewed and at least 50% of processing would have to occur here. Good start. It’s our fish – it should be harvested sustainably to create Kiwi jobs with fair pay and adequate conditions. The shame of slave fishing has to be ended.
Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, November 14th, 2011 - 67 comments
Labour’s David Cunliffe put out a press release judging National’s proposed asset sales programme by the 5 tests that Key laid down in an effort to reassure us that sales would only go ahead if they made sense and were good for the country. Cunliffe’s analysis shows asset sales clearly fail the Nats’ own tests. The only reason to go ahead is blind ideology.
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, November 9th, 2011 - 125 comments
Nothing separates the political Right and Left like their attitude to welfare. The difference is very starkly highlighted in the recent policies from National and Labour. Which approach better serves the children of New Zealand? How much do we care?
Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, November 8th, 2011 - 38 comments
I was going to write about the release of Labour’s environmental policy – and the resounding silence from National – but NRT has done a great job aleady.
Written By: - Date published: 7:11 am, November 8th, 2011 - 20 comments
The focus of attention has moved on to costing the policies, promises and projections of the major parties. The Nats’ are desperate to have the media focus stay on the mote in Labour’s eye, and ignore the beam in their own. In the interests of informed choice, let’s hear both sides of the story…
Written By: - Date published: 10:08 am, November 7th, 2011 - 67 comments
We live in a time of inter-related crises of the environment and the capitalist economic system. So, I guess it’s not surprising to see Labour becoming more environmentally aware at the same time as the Greens propose economic policies that would normally be out of Labour’s playbook. Don’t worry about them becoming too alike, welcome the solid platform for a new government.
Written By: - Date published: 7:50 am, November 7th, 2011 - 46 comments
hattip William Joyce
Written By: - Date published: 1:45 pm, November 4th, 2011 - 69 comments
National likes to take Labour proposals and extend them to the point of absurdity. Labour needs to fight fire with fire. Here’s a few examples…
Written By: - Date published: 12:06 pm, November 4th, 2011 - 155 comments
Labour has shown us the money. In surplus in the same time frame as National, and paying off debt faster because we keep the revenue streams from owning our own assets.
Written By: - Date published: 6:37 am, November 4th, 2011 - 113 comments
It’ll be interesting to see the full fiscal details from Labour today. National is planning to borrow too, the question is how much they differ by. Only $2.6b in the first term with both having net debt about $50b. That’s the alternative to selling our profitable assets to pay for capital investment. The Nats’ $17b claim is riddled with basic errors. Updated with more bad adding from Key
Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, November 2nd, 2011 - 45 comments
Over 100 meat workers have now been locked out for 10 days at the Canterbury Meat Packers works in Rangitikei. They are told they must sign an agreement that cuts pay by 25% and loses conditions in order to return to work. Some migrant workers face deportation if they lose their jobs. It’s a disgrace; they all need our support. Here’s how you can help.
Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, November 2nd, 2011 - 62 comments
Today’s Fairfax poll shows a rise in support for Labour of 3.2%. What is particularly interesting about this poll is that the sampling period began the same day that Labour announced its “bombshell” retirement policy.
Written By: - Date published: 3:09 pm, November 1st, 2011 - 45 comments
Public service broadcasting is dying in NZ, and that’s not good enough. Labour’s newly released broadcasting policy promises to preserve it, with the future of the system to be shaped by public debate.
Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, November 1st, 2011 - 29 comments
Watching Goff and Key last night was a bit like watching Graham Henry arguing with Paul Henry…
Written By: - Date published: 9:43 am, November 1st, 2011 - 51 comments
Oh dear. This is not what National needed on the back of Goff besting Key in the first debate. National’s new TV ad is on the world-class infrastructure they claim to have built. But it was all planned, funded, and mostly built by Labour. Have National accidentally revealed their real achievement: taking credit for others work?
Written By: - Date published: 12:28 pm, October 31st, 2011 - 2 comments
It’s been an extraordinary few weeks. It started with the double downgrade/DJ Key fiasco and Rena. Then Labour started dictating the play: its policies setting the beat of the campaign; its framing dominating. National took its only asset, Brand Key, and trashed it with its phony, weird opening address. And, then, National’s launch was over-shadowed by the rail loop announcement.
Written By: - Date published: 12:19 pm, October 30th, 2011 - 130 comments
Labour has just over-shadowed Key’s big smile and wave show today – where he is expected to reannounce spending – with another big policy. Labour will cancel National’s Holiday Highway. With the money saved, they will make the existing road safe, and go 50-50 with the Auckland council to fund the CBD rail-loop and get Auckland moving sustainably.
Written By: - Date published: 2:14 pm, October 29th, 2011 - 68 comments
Sprout’s post says it all. Labour’s opening address blew National’s out of the park. But I can’t help myself, I have to put in my analysis of why National’s was so awful and Labour’s so good. Almost out of nowhere, Labour has seized the discourse. It is dictating the run of play with its policies, its framing, and, now, with its marketing. This is how you win.
Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, October 29th, 2011 - 106 comments
Labour’s opening address shows that the Party has rediscovered its heart. It’s policies show that its rediscovered its balls as well! Win or lose, right now Labour is a party to be proud of.
Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, October 29th, 2011 - 32 comments
In case you missed them last night, here are the National, Labour and Green election opening addresses, collected for your convenience.
Written By: - Date published: 8:16 pm, October 28th, 2011 - 246 comments
Amazing. Brilliant. I’ve seen a lot of political television, and that would have to be the best piece of contemporary political television by a political party I can remember. Could not have been better. National utterly trounced.
Written By: - Date published: 4:58 pm, October 28th, 2011 - 67 comments
Labour’s election Opening Address will be broadcast on TV1 at 7:50pm tonight. Labour is hinting that the address will be something different, and unlike anything we have seen before. Given their gutsy campaigning so far, anything could happen! Make sure you tune in…
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