Lefties on The Standard: UK election edition
A dedicated post on The Standard providing a discussion space for left-wing people only.
#ChangeTheGovt
Lefties on The Standard redux
A dedicated post on The Standard providing a discussion space for left-wing people only.
Jacinda Ardern’s speech
If you missed it last night – Jacinda Ardern’s first speech as PM elect is everything that we could want and expect. But the take-home line of the drama belongs to Winston Peters.
The first 100 days of a Labour led government
Maybe Peters learned from history and is not doomed to repeat it. If we get a Labour led government, what should be its top priorities in the first 100 days?
Nats – lousy at government – “brilliant” at opposition
Peters has the opportunity to put an end to this useless government (and turn National into “the opposition from hell”). I think he’s going to ’96 us, but I’d be happy to be proved wrong
Lefties on The Standard #3
Another post on The Standard providing a discussion space for left-wing and progressive people only.
Young on coalition options – an edge to Labour
Audrey Young on the coalition dance: “Labour would probably have an advantage because of the greater policy overlap”, “Keeping deputy leader Paula Bennett out of the first pro-forma courtesy meeting was an appalling decision by English that simply says he was desperate to please Peters at any cost”.
Coalition of liars
The right wing clobbering machine is already calling a possible Labour Green NZF a “coalition of losers”. Well under MMP a coalition of losers can be the winners. But however you cut it a coalition of liars will always be liars.
Peters campaigned against the Nats – his party wants him to do the right thing
Peters campaigned hard against the Nats, and for a change in government (check out the speech and video). To keep faith with democracy and with his party members he has to go with Labour Green (check out the feedback and polls). If Peters goes the other way NZF will implode.
Establishment hysteria and MMP
The papers are full of the expected establishment hysteria today, trying to paint the election as a done deal for the Nats (I wonder what Peters will make of that?). Professor Richard Shaw: “Nobody’s won the election yet. The people who won the election are the people who form the government.”
The vote for change
The Nats lost this election. It was a vote for change. NZF party members are calling on Peters to do the right thing.
Thank you Jacinda Ardern!
The fact that we could even hope for a Labour Green win is remarkable – was inconceivable just 2 months ago. Labour’s surge has been incredible. Thank you Jacinda Ardern, and thank you all who worked so hard! Now it’s up to MMP…
Go Green – the twitter version
Who are you going to wake up with on Sunday morning?
Go Green
All the good reasons, and it comes down to values and what kind of government and country NZ now wants.
A report from South Auckland – it is time to change the government
Reason #4637 why we need to change the government – Midwife reprimanded after speaking out about abuse and neglect in South Auckland
Today is the last day to enroll – and you should
Today is the last day you can enroll to vote in the election. Historically far too many people in the 18-24 age group have not enrolled. The same again would suit the Nats very well indeed.
Update: Newsroom: “A record turnout of early voters suggests a youthquake in action – and the polls might be wrong.”
Update: If you are trying to enrol and the queues are long, here are the other ways you can do it, including online!
Update: you can enrol up until midnight Friday online, and then vote at a polling station on Saturday. Details here.
An MMP government
On current polling the next government could be Labour + Green + NZF. That would annoy a lot of Nats if they have more votes than Labour alone, but that’s how MMP works. English lied about this in the last debate, but apparently has since walked it back.
Dame Anne Salmond’s final, brief election thought
Salmond “Jacindamania isn’t about personality at all – it’s a collective sigh of relief that we might finally have a kind of leadership that reflects our core values as New Zealanders.”
The poll that matters will be completed on Saturday
Poll results! And, the most important thing we can do now is vote, and get out the vote, and remind people that only Labour and the Greens have committed to changing the government.
Nats “discovered poverty last week” – and will forget it just as quickly
Ardern’s jab that English “discovered poverty last week” was the line of the debate. After the election National will forget it again just as quickly, if the record of the last nine years is anything to go by. Do you want to vote for that?
Why I voted two ticks Labour
The Nats do not deserve to lead NZ so I voted for change. The electorate vote was simple. I struggled with the party vote.
How National “delivers” for NZ
Campbell: Ten Reasons For Not Voting National
Gordon Campbell sets out ten reasons not to vote National. Well referenced and compelling. Standardistas may wish to add their own entries to the list.
When scaremongering becomes self-parody
According to English, in a revealing Q+A interview, Labour wants to “slaughter the dairy herd” and “depopulate the cities”. Why is he such a scared little man? Why doesn’t National have the confidence to run a positive campaign on its policies?
Oram on Nats’ poor record and why we should vote for change
Rod Oram at Newsroom: “More of the same won’t deliver for New Zealand. Hopefully, new leaders and policies will.”
What vote will deliver the change we need…?
Dave Kennedy outlines the importance of party voting Green to ensure Labour has a strong progressive coalition partner in the next government.
van Beynen on the changing of the guard
Martin van Beynen has been touring the country: “I think Jacinda Ardern is going to win the election or at least get more of the party vote than National. And even if I am wrong about that, the ground has still shifted and what she represents is in the ascendant. If not this time, it will be the next.”
Ardern: Setting the record straight
Watch Jacinda Ardern on the Nats’ nasty negative campaign – and the huge problems for New Zealand that they want to distract you from.
Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick on ending poverty
The Greens have a plan to end poverty now.
Polls – focus on the horse race misses the huge mood for change
Labour’s surge under Jacinda Ardern has us all talking about Labour vs National – who’s in front. Exciting stuff, but there is something even more important going on. The mood represented by Labour + Green + the plurality of NZF supporters. The winds of change are blowing.
CB poll has Labour ahead and Greens safe
Labour and Greens could govern alone.
The 3 News poll was a rogue.
Greening the place up
It’s a simple equation; Labour plus The Greens equals real progress, real change, real hope.
Green Party announces a better deal for students
“Students are the only group in society expected to borrow just to get by. We believe that students should be supported so that they can focus on learning the skills they need to contribute to a smart, innovative economy and a fairer society”
Labour’s families package
Under Labour’s Families Package 70% of families with kids do better than they do under National’s tax plan. Labour launched their online calculator yesterday…
Ardern on Nat’s campaign of ‘fear and lying’
Jacinda Ardern has spoken out about National’s campaign of “fear and lying”. Meanwhile Joyce keeps lying about his imaginary hole, and English tries to reinvent the fart tax attack.
Poll tonight
“Dramatic and Devastating” according to Patrick Gower. Do you think he wants us to watch?