Gordon Campbell on the troubled aftermath of Scotland’s independence vote
A week can be a very long time in Scotland’s 300 year struggle for independence. The “ No” vote last week that seemed to end […]
Elections
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s very bad year
While Labour leader David Cunliffe still appears to be in denial about the extent of Saturday night’s debacle, there was hardly a single redeeming feature […]
Gordon Campbell on a campaign that is ending as it began
This election campaign is getting no less strange as it heads on down to the wire. Winston Peters is still refusing to say whether a […]
Gordon Campbell on first time voting (centre right)
For the next two days, I’m turning my column over to two guest columnists who are first time voters. I’ve asked them to explain why […]
Gordon Campbell on last night’s debate, and the Collins accusation
Debating is a peculiar discipline in that what you say is less important than how you’re saying it. Looking poised, being articulate and staying on […]
Gordon Campbell on National’s electorate deals
Image by Neetflux For all the talk yesterday from Prime Minister John Key about National being transparent about its electorate deals in Epsom and Ohariu, […]
On the latest round of leadership ructions in the Act Party
Call me old fashioned, but the recent versions of the Act Party almost make you feel nostalgic for the days of its youth. Back in […]
On Shearer’s exit, and where Labour goes from here
Some political animals would have grasped for survival at the results of the latest Roy Morgan poll, which showed National losing ground and with the […]
Gordon Campbell on the Labour Party ructions
One of the credibility problems for the Labour Party is that the party membership is considerably to the left of both David Cunliffe and David […]
Gordon Campbell on Steven Joyce’s student loans debacle
Gordon Campbell on Steven Joyce’s student loans debacle By Gordon Campbell Of all the ways of trying to save “up to” $60-70 million – and […]
Gordon Campbell on John Banks’ unpleasant options
Article – Gordon Campbell Banksie-Dotcom Link Under Fire – Parliament.co.nz A bunker mentality is becoming evident in the Act Party’s response to its current crisis […]
Gordon Campbell on Key. Ethics and Banks
Article – Gordon Campbell Disclosure rules exist in local body legislation for the public’s benefit, not the benefit of politicians. Yet the explicit message from […]
Gordon Campbell on the John Banks vs Kim Dotcom saga
Article – Gordon Campbell Click for original version. Cartoon by Martin Doyle Is it too soon to start talking about the curse of the Act […]
On the Supreme Court’s mauling of Obamacare
It’s been 12 years since the last shamelessly partisan verdict by the conservative- dominated US Supreme Court when – after the 2000 election – they […]
On the Citizens Initiated Referendum on asset sales
The launching of a Citizens Initiated Referendum on the question of the partial asset sales is a useful shot across the bows of the government’s […]
On Rick Santorum and the Republican primary race
Well, Mitt Romney won narrowly yesterday in Michigan, the family fiefdom that goes back all the way to when his father George ran General Motors […]
On the Rudd vs Gillard contest
In its last suicidal spasm this morning, the Australian Labor Party caucus seems certain to choose Julia Gillard to lead it to annihilation at the […]
On Mitt Romney’s victory in Florida
So Romney now looks a certainty to be the Republican candidate against Barack Obama in November, after yesterday’s win in conservative Florida put paid to […]
On today’s protest march in Christchurch
Reading meaning into the utterances of Christchurch mayor Bob Parker is always a risky business, but Parker’s comment to the Press the other day that […]
On the Labour leadership change
So it is to be David Shearer as leader, and Grant Robertson as deputy. With David Cunliffe, there were always two concerns. One, whether the […]
On the coalition agreements
Now that the three deals done to maintain the National-led coalition are all on the table, its pretty clear how shabby these arrangements really are. […]
On David Shearer, and the Maori Party
Of the three Davids contesting the Labour leadership, David Shearer’s main appeal is as the anti-candidate, the guy who aspires to the top job after […]
On the challenges facing Labour’s new leader
While some are urging Labour to take its own good time over deciding on a new leadership team, there is little reason to think that […]
On the election outcomes
Well, at least the election has pinpointed the site of Labour’s Last Stand – on Saturday night, south Auckland was almost the only place in […]
On the Greens’ end game this week
Illustration by Tim Denee – www.timdenee.com Into the home stretch, and National is moving the campaign focus from one diversion (the Epsom tape) to the […]
On Epsom, and dodgy aspects of the asset sales programme
Illustration by Tim Denee – www.timdenee.com So last night, even Peter Dunne – always a reliable weathervane on which way the political wind is blowing […]
On the cuppa tea tape and billboard circuses
First the secret cuppa tea tape, then the billboard defacement plot. Just when the election campaign looked like the mainstream media might have to focus […]
On the Nats’ secret agenda for MMP, and a political star in the making
One of the odder subtexts of the campaign is the serial ‘spontaneity’ with which National Party candidates are endorsing the SM (Supplementary Member) system in […]
On credibility, and the government’s irrigation plans
Like the Biblical loaves and fishes, the government’s Future Investment Fund from asset sales just keeps on giving – $1 billion for schools and hospitals […]
On some possible options for the Greens
Is it written in the Green Party’s DNA that they will eventually become the nation’s sole centrist party? Events seem to be conspiring to push […]