political parties

national

National’s alternative budget doesn’t add up

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 23 comments

If ever you needed a symbol of National’s current plight it is the handling of the release of its alternative budget. It has been a complete and utter shambles.  A clusterf&*k of epic proportions.  Because if there is one part of National’s reputation that needs to be defended at all costs it is the perception that they are competent financial managers and making multiple billion dollar mistakes in your alternative budget at election time is the one thing over all else that will hurt that part of your reputation.

So much for the climate change consensus

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 39 comments

Ten months ago National supported the Zero Carbon Bill and called for a consensus between the major political parties on the overall framework through which climate change issues are addressed.  This week National trashed all of that to try and shore up its sagging support.

How low can National go?

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 43 comments

With news of a second mistake in National’s draft budget its campaign is in trouble and support for other right wing parties appears to be surging.  Update:  Stuff is reporting a further $3.9 billion dollar mistake …

The Auckland Central Poll

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 33 comments

A Reid Research poll has suggested that Helen White is well ahead of Emma Mellow and Chloe Swarbrick and that Labour’s support is still sky high.

Reti’s running

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 62 comments

Yesterday Shane Reti ignited leadership rumours after he was asked if he wanted to be National leader and did not pledge support for existing leader Judith Collins.

National’s Upper Harbour problem

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 41 comments

This has been quite a year for National. It is onto its third leader, has lost a slew of experienced MPs, and has had other MPs resign in curious circumstances.  And now it appears that it has a crisis involving its Upper Harbour candidate, Jake Bezzant.

National’s infrastructure bank

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 21 comments

National’s proposed Infrastructure Bank is an accounting trick, with very high risks that the entire power of our political order for anyone affected by these monster projects will weaken citizens’ rights.

Labour announces tax policies

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 98 comments

Labour and the Greens have both recently announced taxation policies.  Meanwhile there is no sign of any fiscal policy or alternative budget from National.

National’s latest deception

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 98 comments

National’s social media team has published an edited version of a response to a written question by Chris Hipkins to suggest that returning kiwis in quarantine were not subject to compulsory testing, when the reality is anyone refusing a test can be held for up to 26 days following the fortnight stay.  

What does Judith do about Gerry?

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 113 comments

Gerry Brownlee has chosen to not only repeat his conspiracy theories involving Ashley Bloomfield but also claim that the media is against National.  Both claims have no factual foundation. 

What is wrong with postal voting?

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 73 comments

Judith Collins’s and National’s ridiculing the proposition that New Zealand could safely hold an election using postal voting has some disturbing similarities with Donald Trump’s approach in America.

TheY aRe onlY aSKing qUestiOns

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 112 comments

Yesterday National suggested a wide based and interesting conspiracy theory involving the Government and the Ministry of Health and all of the Health Boards suppressing news of community spread of Covid 19 for political advantage while at the same time complaining that the Government should be consulting with them on decisions.

Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Government: Style over substance or a guiding light for progressive politics?

Written By: nickkelly
Date published: - 33 comments

Critics have dismissed the Jacinda Ardern government as being one of style over substance. This is unfair given the challenges this government has faced and the policy achievements it has had. However, it is a government that has much work to do if it wins a second term. And its over-reliance on Jacinda as party leader is a huge strategic risk, especially when the governments front bench is perceived, rightly or wrongly, to be lightweight.

IT doESN’t aDD up

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 57 comments

For a few days now Gerry Brownlee has been peddling this dog whistle conspiracy campaign that the Government is hiding bad news about Covid and we should all be really concerned.

National’s list

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 23 comments

National’s list has now been released and highlights selection problems that it has had this year.

The Covid election

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 73 comments

I normally do not do this, tempting fate and all that.  But the forces behind this election are so strong that it would take a really dramatic event to change current momentum.

The test of MMP

Written By: weka
Date published: - 123 comments

With the left’s political fortunes having changed greatly in the past three years, and with more change on the way, does the left still want MMP?

Falling into a coma

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 92 comments

Why have we fallen into the most boring and predictable election we’ve had since Bolger’s second term?

National’s Auckland Central problem

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 45 comments

National is facing another PR disaster with reports of an increasingly hostile Auckland Central candidate selection process and with allegations that National’s head office has misapplied the party’s constitution.

Mea culpa

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 33 comments

Back in 2017 I was upset, we had a leadership vote only in caucus – just before the election. I didn’t realise at the time that Andrew Little was actually stepping down in favour of Jacinda Ardern. She’d had the potential, but I hadn’t realised that Little thought she was up for the task. I’m delighted with the result. Thank you Andrew.