Everything about politics
Josie Pagani Political Commentator commonroomnz.com This article was first published on The Common Room Working class voices are absent in our politics. That’s a problem for all of us. Political elites don’t talk about the working class anymore. That’s a problem, whether you’re on the
Michael Bassett bassettbrashandhide.com The other day when I opened a campaign letter from Chris Hipkins containing a spelling mistake and a considerable amount of gobbledegook, I couldn’t help thinking back to Peter Fraser, Labour’s greatest leader. He was also the Minister of Education. I published a biography
Michael Wood’s ignominy isn’t over yet. He’s been referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee in the continuing drama over his failure to declare his share interests and the resulting conflicts of interest. A highly critical report has found former minister Michael Wood damaged his own standing as
The Labour Party election slogan could easily be turned against them. The majority of voters are probably thinking ‘In It Because of You’ would be more appropriate. It, in this case, referring to the proverbial pile. ‘In It For You’ is at best highly misleading and at worst a falsehood.
As I’ve asked several times: are these people barking mad? Or just colossally stupid? I’m talking, of course, of the zealots of the green-left and their one, big idea: “Net Zero”. People like Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen. No wonder Anthony Albanese
A couple of interesting things happened in Australian politics over the weekend. One drew a lot of attention, the other passed almost without mention. Yet, both signal trouble ahead for the Albanese government. The first was the Fadden by-election, which delivered a thumping win to the Coalition. Of course,
Robert Kogon Robert Kogon is a pen name for a widely-published financial journalist, a translator, and researcher working in Europe. brownstone.org “L’Etat, c’est moi” – “I am the state” – Louis XIV is supposed to have said. And in a contemporary echo of that famous phrase, EU Internal
Simon O’Connor commonroomnz.com This article was first published on The Common Room What is identity politics, and why does it matter to you? Well, the first thing to understand about identity politics is that you don’t matter. All that matters is what group, or tribe, are you
David Seymour ACT Party Leader The Green Party’s Treaty plan is a recipe for endless chaos and division all over New Zealand, just like we saw at Ihumatao. The Greens have called for: * ‘the ability for the Waitangi Tribunal to make recommendations in relation to privately owned land, as
July 17th 2023 My apologies for the lack of letters recently, but I have been enjoying the delights of hospitalisation care of the UK NHS. My comments on the treatment can wait until a later date but I can’t resist making a couple of comments. Unbelievably when they came
Dave Witherow What happened to the Great Pandemic? Not long ago we were all going to die; we were at war with a lethal virus. And now, voila! nothing to worry about, nothing at all to be seen. And, most remarkable of all, no media curiosity as to whether all
Paula Bennett Former Deputy Prime Minister commonroomnz.com This article was first published on The Common Room Are you a spectator or a participant? Do you get involved? Do you give a damn? I never wanted to merely be an observer of other people doing things. I wanted to get
The latest 1News/Verian poll is out, and it confirms what two other polls last week showed, that the major parties are on a slide, as is normal in most election years. That makes National’s claim of trying to get over 40% in the election look rather like unobtainium.
Actor and singer Jane Birkin, who made France her home and charmed the country with her English grace, natural style and social activism, has died at age 76. The London-born star and fashion icon was known for her musical and romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg. Their songs
Richard Kelly Richard Kelly, a retired 60 yo, born and bred in Melbourne. He spent a couple of years as a mathematics teacher before moving into Insurance and Superannuation/Investments first as a trainee actuary and then as a business analyst with some of the largest institutions in Australia and
