Clawing Back the Party Vote

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Chris Luxon’s political ineptness continues to astound and dismay.  What is wrong with the man?  Given the opportunity to act like an Opposition leader and make even more gain, he simpers and says “me too” to Labour and yet another chance to convince us that he is fit for purpose fizzles out.

His contempt for the Parliament protesters was a disgrace.  He meekly followed Jacinda and ignored the call of the people.

His support for the spiteful, malevolent Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard was bizarre. When Mallard sent out the outrageous trespass notices it was yet another heaven-sent opportunity for Luxon to stand up for common sense and common decency by speaking out against them.  Why on earth was he silent? It was a despicable act by a bully boy that should have had the Opposition up in arms.  But Luxon again followed Jacinda.

And now “National is committed to emissions targets and supports the Government’s emissions budgets announced today Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon says.”

“Climate change is a huge challenge. National is fully committed to emissions targets including net zero by 2050.”

“Today’s emissions budgets are an important step towards those goals and we will support those budgets.”  

National supports emissions budgets – Christopher Luxon | Voxy.co.nz

And on the same day he agreed with the Labour party line on emissions and climate change, Stuff reported under the headline “Cost of living key issue as National works to claw back party vote.”

Luxon said, “We lost party vote in a lot of electorates across the country – in fact all electorates except for Epsom.

“So what we have to do is actually focus on the issues that are really important and the number one that is important to everyone is the cost of living.”

Cost of living key issue as National works to claw back party vote – Luxon | Stuff.co.nz

The fact that seems to escape this man is that all of these issues are important to his ‘clawing back’ the party vote.  A focus on the cost of living now may well be too late for those who have deserted the party because of his cowardice and compliance with all the issues that have gone before. He has consistently dismayed and disappointed.

Diversity is another buzzword that the National Party is missing the mark on.  On that, “The party came under fire for a lack of diversity in the selection process for a new Tauranga MP”, but Luxon said, “It comes down to the best person for the job.”

“The party is casting a wider net in searching for candidates looking for ‘the best person possible, someone who understands the issue locally, and can represent our values’.”

Cost of living key issue as National works to claw back party vote – Luxon | Stuff.co.nz

Well, hasn’t that always been the way for candidate selection?  The best person for the job? Someone who understands local issues and can represent the party values? How is this earth-shattering comment of his going to make any difference at all?  The selection process can only select from those who put themselves forward – and as for representing the party values – does he know what they are?

Following the catastrophic 2020 loss, Peter Goodfellow said “We are committed to utilising the review results to help shape this next term, to carry out the work and changes required to position the party well into the future, and to ensure these improvements are implemented for the 2023 campaign itself.”

Goodfellow said the review panel would focus on areas the party could actually change itself.

National Party to examine election campaign and candidate selection process in review of devastating election loss | Stuff.co.nz

If Luxon’s standpoints show how the party is changing itself to position itself in the future, then it may have a very short future.

Luxon is, however, doing well in the polls and for that I say well done, with some surprise.  But there is still far too long to go until the next election and voters have notoriously short memories, although the gloss does seem to be coming off the Barbie PM and her packaging is looking a bit ragged.  Ken, her Finance off-sider, is becoming ever-more gleefully pompous as he signs cheques for millions for frivolous pursuits, for cycleways and driver training.  As reported by Zane Small for Newshub under the heading “Budget 2022: Government pumps $86m into driver licence support to boost job opportunities, ‘prevent criminal penalties’”

The Government is investing $86.5 million over four years into driver licence support to ‘prevent fines, court and the risk of criminal penalties’ and boost job opportunities.

The funding, from Budget 2022, will see an estimated 64,000 New Zealanders benefit from improved access to driver licence testing and training, according to a pre-Budget announcement on Wednesday.

Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni said having a driver licence is a key requirement for up to 70 percent of jobs but access to training and testing due to costs and other barriers often make licences difficult to obtain.

“This disproportionately disadvantages Maori, Pacific peoples, sole parents and rural communities”, Sepuloni said.

Budget 2022: Government pumps $86m into driver licence support to boost job opportunities, ‘prevent criminal penalties’ | Newshub

Isn’t there a contradiction in terms with these two initiatives – one to get people out of cars and the other to get them into them? They make strange bedfellows.

Projects are announced, monies are promised and handed over – and what then?  We have an extremely expensive building sitting empty as a result of the for-now once again cancelled harbour cycleway.  $660,000 for absolutely nothing.

Mental health – no outcomes for the $1.9 billion expended.

Our health system is being systematically dismantled and replaced with a two-tier system that disadvantages the majority of those who actually pay for it.  For all the problems, and I do know there were many, it has served us well.  The future of our health care is now looking very concerning.

Has Christopher Luxon stood up for healthcare as an issue? Well, sort of. He wants a quid both ways though.

National leader Christopher Luxon is committed to scrapping the new Maori Health Authority, but sees no need for a referendum on co-governance – a bottom line for ACT.

National’s Christopher Luxon commits to scrapping Maori Health Authority, but no need for referendum on co-governance | Newshub

In the same article, he outlined his thoughts on co-governance.

“What I’d say to you is we know what our views are around co-governance and that’s very clear for us as a party but the reality is for me on co-governance, the Government has to define what it’s about.”

Umm – that’s not clear at all.

And then, “I don’t see a need for a referendum at this point, if you’re asking me that question.”

And yet another opportunity to position the National Party as one with a vision is lost.

In stark contrast to Luxon, Sid Holland, elected to Parliament in 1935 and who served as the 25th prime minister of New Zealand was:

Determined, vigorous, with a good memory and naturally aggressive, he detested socialism, which he defined as equality of income, irrespective of capacity – ‘the very antithesis of private enterprise’. He was a formidable impromptu debater, whose bluff ebullience, arrogance, tenacity and use of ridicule against the Labour government stood out in a Parliament in which the opposition was weak and divided.

Sidney Holland – Wikipedia