When Max Rashbrooke and Labour’s incrementalism is the solution – the NZ Left is in trouble
Incremental reform has long been the strategic instinct of Labour’s policy elite, but as economic pressure mounts and inequality deepens, that cautious approach may be losing political legitimacy. Critics now argue that without bold economic change, Labour risks leaving the political space open for others on the left to fill.
Comrade Ian Powell writes glowingly of Max Rashbrooke in his most recent TDB post, and while there is much to credit in Max’s assessment of poverty, the reality is that his and the Wellington Labour Mandarin’s promotion of incrementalism almost killed the last Labour Party.
Labour’s Pre-Covid Political Vulnerability
We forget that Jacinda was losing the election before Covid.
The policy positions, while all great first steps, simply weren’t prepared to challenge Capitalism nor regulate it.
The lack of real traction on crucial social issues was going to sink her Government until Covid came along and she shone in the crisis.
Winning the Covid Crisis but Losing the Political Moment
The problem with Labour was that while they won the Covid War, they lost the Covid Peace.
The UK Labour Warning for New Zealand
The incrementalism promoted by Rashbrooke and the Wellington Mandarins wanted to only rebuild back to the present inequalities and after so much sacrifice, that simply wasn’t politically palatable.
After locking down Auckland so the rest of the country could catch up on their immunisation rates, all likely Labour had to offer us was GST off fresh fruit and vegetables which felt like a kick in the balls.
As Verity Johnson so elegantly argued this week…
Unless he’s changed. And Hipkins hasn’t.
Substack
…this incrementalism has become the kiss of death in the UK…
Labour MPs demand Starmer change course after humiliating by-election 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.
Labour’s “Small Target” Strategy Before Election 2026
It was a very interesting interview with Kieran McAnulty on The Bradbury Group this month, 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.
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.
Political Space Opening for Greens, TOP and Te Pāti Māori
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!
These kinds of posts just show how out of touch you are Martyn.
Saw a Labour ad today. Hipkins holding an identity card we will all be required to have so we can go to the doctor for free. No better than gst of fruit and veges. Such small thoughts.
The threat/thought of this obnoxious CoC being returned to power is terrifying. Our lovely NZ is sliding down a deep slope to never emerge again as we once knew it? The mindless, continuous, extreme hate for Jacinda Ardern, who saved so many lives, needs to be ignored as the ramblings of the slow witted and desperate. This CoC is not interested in the ongoing Covid cases and why people are dying or not having a booster. I truly hope that voters will see the big picture and vote accordingly. However, Labour will have to step up and really lead with new innovative ideas, policies, plans and adequate funding! Verity Johnson’s article was superb.
I agree Bomber: a do-nothing Labour sleepwalking to victory and then sleeping in the Beehive is a waste of space and a waste of votes. My Party Vote goes to the Greens. If Labour can’t come up with progressive policies it should make way for an outfit that will.
You forget another political party – Alliance has made a comeback to challenge exactly this.
Alliance plans to stand candidates in electorates and hopefully some will make it into parliament.
I wouldn’t hold my breath on TOP.
Alliance will split the vote on the Left and TOP will take from both sides .They would be my 2nd choice.