Listening to a political chat with Sean Plunket and Chris Trotter turned out to be a revealing experience. Chris Trotter is one of the few people on the left of the political spectrum I have time for. His replies to questions are measured and honest. If you listen to him you get a pretty realistic view as to where things are at politically in this country.
He made some interesting points, and one in particular was like a bit of a bolt from the blue. Chris is of the opinion that politics has become increasingly polarised, but what really hit me was when he said that as a result THERE IS NO MIDDLE GROUND. This statement had me sitting up thinking. It was a proposition that had not occurred to me.
Having taken the time to think it through I believe him to be correct. The middle ground, thanks to Jacinda Ardern, is no longer. The politics of voters have become very much more hard left or right. This is hugely important for the upcoming election. I believe the two major parties have yet to wake up to this fact. Both Labour and National, Chris H and Chris L are still trying to capture something that no longer exists.
A good example is the Captain’s Call by Hipkins on the wealth tax. I am sure Hipkins very much believes in it as did Ardern. When it came to announcing it, Hipkins, like Ardern, couldn’t find reverse gear quickly enough. Hipkins wasn’t prepared to suffer the ignominy of losing his first election as leader over what should be a core policy of a Labour Government.
His announcement came while he was still overseas. That means there was no consultation with his Cabinet colleagues. All of Parker’s and Robertson’s hard work went down the drain in an instant. Secondly, he has upset both his coalition partners, the Greens and the Maori Party.
The Green Party members, who obviously don’t trust their politicians to do the right thing so tell them what to do, are quite likely to direct them to sit on the cross benches. They could well be joined by the Maori Party who are also incensed that the country’s ‘rich pricks’ won’t be taxed into oblivion. A Coalition of Utter Chaos. If Winston were to get back in he might decide to do the same.
At that point, we are close to a Parliament of chaos. The other thing to take from Hipkins’s decision is that there are obvious splits in the thinking in the Labour Cabinet, if not the entire caucus, on tax. Probably not just tax either. Nicola Willis deserves credit for getting Labour’s behind-closed-doors shenanigans out into the open. Exposing chinks in the government’s armour is always good for the opposition.
As Trotter pointed out it would have been much better for Hipkins to have gone with the policy, put it to the electorate and given the country a chance to vote it up or down. But no, on the bonfire it goes…for now. He says at least until the election after this. The question is, if he were to be in a negotiating position post-election would he have the wherewithal to hold to his political ‘power over policy’ standpoint? Power over policy could mean changing the policy in order to gain the power.
National and ACT must be given a strong mandate if this potential shambles is to be avoided.
