Can Labour add substance to style?
The installation of Jacinda Adern as Labour Party leader is the last throw of the dice for Labour in terms of trying to achieve a greater resonance with voters by simply changing the leader.
Mike Treen
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Migrant worker exploitation to continue under new policy
The government has partially backed down from some changes to immigration policy that would have reduced the flow of cheap labour to New Zealand employers. The changes maintain the essence of the policy which was to keep access to cheap labour from abroad, and keep that labour vulnerable and easily exploited when here.
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NZ First squirms over Maori seats abolition
I was a little surprised when NZ First leader Winston Peters announced that a binding referendum on the abolition of the Maori seats and reducing the size of Parliament would be bottom line issues for him. It is impossible for Labour and the Greens to agree to these terms. That means NZ First is saying that they will only form a government with National – assuming they agree.
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The left and the elections – don’t mourn, organise
As the election gets closer, everyone has an opinion on what needs to be done for their party to be successful.
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Working people’s share of income – a brief New Zealand history (Not written by me)
Summary of the June, 207, CTU Economic Bulletin
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The “Third Way” of running capitalism has failed
The days of capitalism are numbered because it can’t get the basics right – including the right to life itself. People need jobs, housing, health care, education. To achieve those goals for all requires a radical attack on wealth inequality.
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Trumps anti-Cuba policy should be condemned
The latest rollback of the Obama presidency’s easing of relations with Cuba as a deepening of the blockade, now in place for 54 years, should be condemned.
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Danger! The economic bubble is bursting
Statistics NZ figures released this week have confirmed that New Zealand is in recession on a per capita basis as the economy has declined for two-quarters when measured on this basis.
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A victory for left in extaordinary UK election
Corbyn and the left now need their mandate to clean house within the Labour Party to ensure the loyalty of all MPs to the new left-wing party programme. It is probable a number will simply retire and take job offer from their big business mates rather than be part of a Corbyn-led party. Others may want to start another centrist Blairite type party. But it is the absolute democratic right of members to go through a selection process for MPs before the next election.
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On the eve of UK election, here was my meeting with Labour shadow chancellor – a socialist leader of working class
Having strong left-wing leaders of the Labour Party is an unusual phenomenon for the UK. Corbyn was elected leader with the overwhelming support of the party members but opposition from the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs. This is a contradiction that cannot last indefinitely.