Monday, October 27, 2003
Leadership change destroys the middle ground
The victory by challenger Don Brash over (now former) National Party leader Bill English will have more ramifications for New Zealand's than might appear on the surface.
Many commentators think that Don Brash - the National finance spokesman and former Reserve Bank Governor - will take National further right-wing and closer to the libertarian ACT party.
Don Brash claims it will not, and says: "I'm mainly telling MPs that the party needs more decisive leadership than it has had in more recent times. It's about management; it's about leadership; it's about communication. In those areas I've had very considerable experience. I don't see big policy differences between Bill English and myself. There's a perception that we're not communicating those policies very effectively at the moment."
However, although Don Brash is right-wing financially, he is very left-wing in some social policies. He is strongly influenced by the United Nations (and in fact, some believe he is looking for a United Nations post after he leaves politics). This leaves the likelihood that as leader he would push social policies even further towards human-rights dominated agendas.
This will be a disaster for those in the National Party (such as Bill English) who believe the party has to recapture its conservative roots if it is to have a future. It also virtually guarantees Labour all the support it needs to push through its own social agenda.
It also leaves without a coherent voice a huge middle ground of New Zealanders who have generally conservative values, and are angry at the way they are being imposed upon by an increasingly socialist government. Former Labour cabinet minister Michael Bassett has a good analysis of the New Zealand that is developing under Labour, and the challenges that face Don Brash (although I disagree with his conclusions about the way forward).
The victory by challenger Don Brash over (now former) National Party leader Bill English will have more ramifications for New Zealand's than might appear on the surface.
Many commentators think that Don Brash - the National finance spokesman and former Reserve Bank Governor - will take National further right-wing and closer to the libertarian ACT party.
Don Brash claims it will not, and says: "I'm mainly telling MPs that the party needs more decisive leadership than it has had in more recent times. It's about management; it's about leadership; it's about communication. In those areas I've had very considerable experience. I don't see big policy differences between Bill English and myself. There's a perception that we're not communicating those policies very effectively at the moment."
However, although Don Brash is right-wing financially, he is very left-wing in some social policies. He is strongly influenced by the United Nations (and in fact, some believe he is looking for a United Nations post after he leaves politics). This leaves the likelihood that as leader he would push social policies even further towards human-rights dominated agendas.
This will be a disaster for those in the National Party (such as Bill English) who believe the party has to recapture its conservative roots if it is to have a future. It also virtually guarantees Labour all the support it needs to push through its own social agenda.
It also leaves without a coherent voice a huge middle ground of New Zealanders who have generally conservative values, and are angry at the way they are being imposed upon by an increasingly socialist government. Former Labour cabinet minister Michael Bassett has a good analysis of the New Zealand that is developing under Labour, and the challenges that face Don Brash (although I disagree with his conclusions about the way forward).
