Labour’s low expectations give Greens and TOP oxygen

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!