International

Why UK Labour lost? Part 9: What the party needs to do now.

Written By: nickkelly
Date published: - 12 comments

Originally post on Nick Kelly’s blog

The broader context of this defeat is that over the last century, UK Labour has won 8 out of the last 28 general elections. Overall the Labour Party is not a successful electoral force in the UK. What makes the 2019 loss harder, is that the party lost sections of its historical base in the North of England and the Midlands.

Royal Move

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 28 comments

It’s great to hear Prince Harry and Meghan quitting as senior royals and going off on their own.  Maybe others in the Royal Family should think of doing the same.

Simon Bridges went to China

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 44 comments

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.

LBJ Redux

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 36 comments

What if the American assassination of General Soleimani results in the complete withdrawal of US troops from the Middle East?

Get out now

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 76 comments

General Soleimani was visiting Iraq at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister to discuss mediation between the US and Iran. Following his assassination by the US the Iraqi Parliament has voted to ask all foreign troops to leave the country. New Zealand’s remaining troops should bring forward their scheduled departure and leave immediately.

 

He wasn’t here to help us, was he

Written By: weka
Date published: - 80 comments

The utter failure of the Australian Prime Minister to lead during the bushfire crisis reminds us that it’s care for our children and communities that drives climate action. When people mobilise politicians will follow.

That 1914 Feeling

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 104 comments

President Trump personally ordered the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite military Quds force. He was killed by rockets fired from US drones over Baghdad Airport.  This is unlawful by any standards, as well as an act of war. Iran has promised retaliation.The doomsday clock just moved closer to midnight.

New book reveals Le Carré’s bleak view of post-Brexit world 

Written By: Simon Louisson
Date published: - 5 comments

John le Carré’s 26th book, Agent Running in the Field, which, according to the publishers is his take on Brexit, and suggests a dystopian future for European liberal democracies in a post-Brexit world. It follows John le Carré’s overarching theme – with friends like these, who needs enemies?

Goodbye 2019

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 8 comments

Throughout the world 2019 was the worst year for the left since 1979. What will 2020 bring?

What if Trump wins again?

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 124 comments

We may as well prepare ourselves for Trump overperforming his popularity again and winning. We’ve had to deal with left’s retreat in most of the world in 2019. So let’s prepare and plot some likely accelerated changes in Trump’s second term.

What Cheeto, Bojo and Scomo are up to

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 76 comments

It has been a tough week for conservative leaders with Trump impeached and the evangelical magazine Christianity Today calling for his resignation, Johnson in the UK announcing voter fraud measures reminiscent of the American deep South, and in Australia Morrison being criticised for missing in action, upstaged by a 13 year old girl and pushing through protection for religious bigotry that Israel Folau would be pleased with. 

The British Election result 2019

Written By: nickkelly
Date published: - 21 comments

Democracy is a precious thing, and not something that can be taken for granted. Having an electoral system where every vote matters is crucial to creating a decent society. It is time that the UK started seriously debating electoral reform and how to improve its democratic systems.

How to counter angry boomer campaigns

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 154 comments

The UK election was won not by Russian bots but by older voters with limited technical skills circulating poorly designed ads.  What can be done in New Zealand to counter what is clearly a right wing campaign tactic?

Listening to left wing dissent

Written By: weka
Date published: - 178 comments

What stands out for me are the voices of the people who are saying actually, there were solid reasons for abandoning Labour, this is why I did. There’s something important here about really listening to dissent and being willing to engage with views that don’t make sense in the context of our own personal ideologies.