Todd Muller gave a keynote speech yesterday, and the upshot of his pitch is that they’ll be just like Labour, but a bit less shit.
He even seemed confused about precisely which party he has joined:
A National-led Government would not increase taxes or cut benefits, its leader Todd Muller has promised.
In fact, the new opposition leader today revealed that if he is Prime Minister, National would spend more money on the “welfare safety net”.
He also said the previous National Government did not move fast or boldly enough on issues such as climate change and addressing New Zealand’s social deficit.
Oh for goodness sake.
National is going to try and outspend Labour on welfare?
Or suggest they’ll just be a bit better at splashing the cash?
What’s the point in voting National, they are just like Labour, but less shit.
“National will not increase the taxes New Zealanders pay. Nor will we ever cut benefits, and we will continue to increase New Zealand’s investment in hospitals, schools and the welfare safety net,” he said.
And he revealed he has been getting advice from some National Party heavy-hitters of old.
“I have taken advice in the last few weeks from my friends, colleagues and mentors John Key, Bill English and Steven Joyce.”
The same advice that lost the 2017 election? I can’t wait for him to give his old boss Jim Bolger a call to talk about unwinding National’s industrial relations policies.
His speech looks and sounds like Todd Muller is intent on turning his puddle of wetness into an ocean of wetness.
Oh well, I suppose this will prove once and for all that Bill English style policies have no electoral appeal.
Woke Wombles the lot of them.