Why UK Labour lost? Part 3: Its Brexit innit
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
Politics
political parties
Why UK Labour lost? Part 2: UK Labour’s Strange loyalty to First Past the Post.
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s Blog
Why UK Labour lost? Part 1: historical context
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
Simon Bridges went to China
It has been revealed that Simon Bridges’trip to China last year was organised by National MP and former teacher of English to Chinese spies Jian Yang and that an offer of assistance from MFAT was declined.
The power of positive campaigning
With the 2020 election just round the corner and recent complaints about the left’s treatment of the #TurnArdern campaign it is a perfect time to think about the importance of language and positive uplifting campaign themes.
Bridges and the Robertson trial
National has released a video of Simon Bridges talking about the trial he conducted against Tony Robertson and suggesting he is in politics to change the law. But the particular law he appears to be targeting was unchanged during the term of the last National Government.
T’was the day of Christmas
National’s social media team spent Christmas day deleting tweets suggesting there was any link between its MPs and members of the #turnardern campaign.
MMP Mark II*
What beats MMP? Open-list proportional representation with a low threshold would be a good option.
Rush to Judgment redux
Barrister Maria Dew has delivered a strong conclusion in the report concerning allegations of sexual assault by one Labour Party member against another member. And Paula Bennett has not as yet apologised for her totally unfounded allegations against third parties.
Labour raise the minimum wage
“Around a quarter of million workers will be better off next year”
Thawing after the BRR
“The purpose of fiscal policy should be to ensure ongoing wellbeing for all and the health of our environment.”
Green Budget win backs public sector leadership on climate change
“We want to make sure hospitals, schools and other public institutions can use energy in a more climate-friendly way, cut emissions, and lower their energy bills.”
The freedom to lie during an election campaign
Two recent National advertisements involving drastically inaccurate graphics have attracted attention. And at the same time National is opposing changes to the Electoral Law that would extend the time that it is an offence to publish a false and misleading advertisement during an election period.
Rent increased over 40% under National (Key years)
Now Simon Bridges as a bridge to sell you.
Can UK Labour do it?
Very unlikely. From the polls taken in the UK few hours ago, the Conservatives are in for an historic fourth consecutive term in Parliament.
Right wing lies
New Zealand and the United Kingdom are both cursed with the right wing parties having the same advisors and similar means of campaigning
Little’s Electoral Bill a curate’s egg – good in parts
I’ve always liked Punch magazine’s famous cartoon “True humility” where the curate assures his bishop noticing his bad egg that parts of it are excellent. Most discussion on Little’s Bill has focused on the bad bits regarding foreign donations. The good bit requires all political ads online to be attributed.
Government to ban foreign donations to political parties
The Government has announced that it will pass under urgency changes to the Electoral Law to ban overseas donations.
Why some MPs should not tweet
National MP Joanne Hayes has provided a textbook example of the perils of Twitter.
Labour’s infrastructure spend announcement
Is the Government commitment to the budget responsibility rules weakening? Because at the Labour Party Conference Grant Robertson has indicated that the Government will shortly announce a big capital spend on infrastructure.
Labour Conference
It’s a weird moment for the Labour Party at Conference this weekend.
Bridges calls for investigation into National’s handling of electoral donations
Simon Bridges’ demand of an investigation into the New Zealand First Foundation appears to have backfired after it emerges that the NZ First Foundation was modelled on the National Party Foundation.
Strike Force Raptor for the win
National has proposed significant changes to the Criminal Justice system to create a Police group without evidence that it works, and that if enacted would make our prisons less safe and plug holes in our law that do not exist.
National’s Youth lauranorda rhetoric
National is proposing changes to the Youth Court system that show not only a disregard for working in the interests of young people but disturbingly show a complete lack of understanding about how the Youth Court works.
Little announces changes to Prisoner voting rights
Andrew Little has announced a review of prisoner voting rights to overturn National’s law change which the Courts have ruled to be in breach of fundamental rights and unjustified. Simon Bridges has announced that National will reverse any such law change. And he has topped this off by proposing that Tauranga City Council should prosecute and fine beggars and homeless people.
November Stuff Poll; Nats Knackered
Stuff have released their latest YouGov political poll. It’s a shocker for the Tories and their current leader Simon Bridges.
Hypocrites
National’s attacks on NZ First’s Foundation are hypocritical in the extreme given that it also has a Foundation and has used this foundation to hide the identity of donors who have collectively potentially contributed huge amounts of money to the party.
Hypocrite
Simon Bridges has accused NZ First of engaging in the most significant breach of electoral law in New Zealand’s history. But has not ruled out working with NZ First in the future. And has forgotten about National’s neat partition of a $100,000 donation to hide it from the authorities.
Not a good look
There has been recent media exposure on New Zealand First’s treatment of donations and the use of a trust to receive donations and avoid contribution disclosure requirements by making payments loans rather than gifts.
Green MP Gareth Hughes speaking bold truth ahead of his retirement at next election
“I’ve grown up knowing nothing but the revolution of the early 1980s. This is this operating system which was uploaded in New Zealand and people have tried to install better policies or better programs, but if they don’t work with the system, they are crashing”
Fifty shades of meh
A group of farmers protested against Government climate policies yesterday including policies which the National Party either established or supported.
End of Life Bill passes
David Seymour’s End of Life Bill passed through Parliament last night by 69 votes to 51. We are now facing a referendum at the next election.
Sustainable Party launches
The Sustainable Party, National’s sock puppet party designed to weaken the Greens has launched. And its policies for some strange reason have not put climate change front and centre.
Slapdown
Jacinda Ardern has publicly slapped Shane Jones down for blatantly racist comments by requiring Immigration Officials to reverse a policy change that was adversely affecting Kiwis who have recently entered into arranged marriages.
UK Conservative’s social media is remarkably similar to National’s social media
The British Conservative Party and the New Zealand National Party appear to be using very similar twitter strategies involving the setting of highly edited video to naff music and the making of patently ridiculous claims.
National’s fundamentals
Are National parachuting in a fundamentalist Christian as a Prime Minister hopeful?