John Key became one of only a handful of our prime ministers without previous cabinet experience, demonstrating that a lack of political experience is no bar to success. Just like Key, Luxon provides an attractive option for voters tired of the jaded cut and thrust of petty politicking.
It took just six years before John Key became prime minister, and whatever Luxon claims about not walking in John Key’s shoes, no one believes him. There are too many similarities for us not to make the comparison, and it seems John Key thinks he’s an excellent substitute too, describing him as a “world class candidate”.
“Luxon in June told Newstalk ZB he was not “John Key 2.0”, but added the former PM had encouraged him to stand for National.”
A Newspaper
Our PTPM has an excellent track record at parliamentary debate, completely trampling Simon Bridges who keeps dusting himself off and coming back for more – only to be tossed aside again. When will it end, we ask? Aha! Along comes Luxon, a clean cut dude with no political history, a fresh face promising a fresh start for a National Party that will not be up to wiping the floor with the PTPM in the debating chamber any time soon.
Although it doesn’t necessarily follow, we see Luxon as the antidote to political puppets who use the parliamentary chamber for grandstanding and petty politics. Far too much is talked about but very little is delivered. We live in hope for a more efficient parliament but this requires a fresh leader, and yes, we will wait a few years.
In the conservative Botany electorate, Luxon faces off against Jamie-Lee Ross who is on the back foot thanks to his messy skirmishes with Bridges and Bennett last year. Luxon sails into this arena squeaky clean.
Luxon attends an evangelical church and is against abortion and euthanasia, providing strong appeal to the Christian voters who comprise a hefty chunk of voters, in fact 38.6% in the 2018 census. They are Luxon’s bread and butter, and while he will lose some to the New Conservatives, many conservative voters won’t take the risk of the NCs not making the 5% threshold.
Luxon promises to bring back into the National fold conservative Christian voters, invariably pro-life, who swapped ACT for National at the last election but are disgruntled with David Seymour’s pro-euthanasia stance.
The fresh face of a political newbie strongly appeals to the media who will make mincemeat of Luxon until he finds his political footing. Susie Ferguson pushed him into admitting the working for families benefit should be cut for parents who don’t vaccinate their children after Luxon had agreed that the solo parents benefit should be cut for the same reason. Luxon did not acknowledge that the two benefits are not provided on the same basis – the recipient of the tax credit for families works but the solo parent recipient receives their benefit for staying home.
It will be very interesting to see if Luxon will hit the Botany electorate running as JLR has been doing in earnest since the idea of Luxon running was first mooted. But is Luxon up to the door to door canvassing, talking to the locals, providing solutions to their problems, in other words actually walking the talk?
This is a very different job to being CEO of a huge organisation with thousands of minions running around at your beck and call. Luxon will have to learn this on the job and he will discover that his adversaries lurk both outside and inside the National Party. If he needs any guidance on this subject, JLR is only a stone’s throw away and, I’m sure, would be more than delighted to bring him up to speed on dirty political tactics.