When the public learnt Jacinda was (wisely) pulling stumps, I suspect few if any New Zealanders would have picked Chris Hipkins as her successor. Chris subsequently claimed how thick he was with Jacinda to explain his shock elevation.
It’s nonsense. No-one was closer to the former PM than Grant Robertson, a career politician despite his protestations, with Prime Ministerial ambitions. Grant is a clever bugger and knows only too well the government will be massacred this October. He also knows, as our post-war history shows, that following a heavy defeat, better to let some-one else be the fall-guy then move on him or her a year before the next election, or in good times (which won’t be the case in the next few years), let two successive election fall-guys cop it, as we saw with Labour following Key’s 2008 success.
The incoming National government face a mountain of problems so it’s my pick Grant will make his move in early 2026 when a victory could be feasible.
3 Comments
One hopes your prediction of National getting in is correct…
And if selling off (whats left of) strategic assets (is required to get into bed with ACT) this sell off be limited to NZ citizens who live locally. Its been shown overseas business and owners care only for increased profits; and will buy off politicians to achieve this…
It will take a huge swing in public opinion for Labour to secure a third term, but Luxon is showing he’s certainly capable of fuelling that swing. He’s their greatest asset.
looks like that swing has already happened given that most polls have labour either tied or slightly ahead…just praying the polls have got it wildy wrong