Massive by-election blow to Labor UK a stark warning to NZ Labour Incrementalism

Labour MPs demand Starmer change course after humiliating byelection loss

Scale of defeat to Greens has plunged party into fresh despair and again raised prospect of leadership challenge

NZ Labour’s incrementalism has been shown the contempt it deserves in the UK with a shocking win for the Greens.

Instead of demanding the State does something meaningful in the cost of living crisis as Mamdani has, Keir Starmer has been a wet limp fart.

It is the tactic NZ Labour are chasing.

It was a very interesting interview with Kieran McAnulty on The Bradbury Group this week, where he categorically ruled out any new revenue streams to pay for the welfare state and infrastructure that NZ requires.

This is a tactic by Labour to create a tiny target and not spook the middle.

The danger for Labour is that they end up looking as incremental as they did post covid with their GST off fresh fruit and vegetables.

This refusal to look at new revenue streams to fund hospitals, education, the welfare state and our infrastructure is a boon for TOP and the Greens to use that room to propose better policy than Labour is prepared to offer.

The reality is the economy is going to continue to hurt and voters will want policy that has a meaningful and material difference in their lives.

If Labour are not prepared to do that, the Greens, TOP and te Pati Māori must pick up the political slack!