Retrospective Legislation Dead
Stuff reports this morning that
Labour’s plans to change the law to legalise the use of taxpayer funds for electioneering are unravelling fast after NZ First appeared to join parties lining up against the move.
Winston Peters said,
“We have the capacity to pay, we will pay, but when we know what we’re paying and why we’re paying it,” he told Radio New Zealand.
This is very good news. Retrospective legislation really would have shown that the government considers itself above the law and made a mockery of any supposed constitutional limits on government.
Labour seriously needs to rethink its arrogant, aggressive stance. The latest Herald-Digipoll survey shows that 52% of the population think it was right for Don Brash to call Labour “corrupt”. Worse for Labour is that 28% of Labour supporters think it was OK for Don Brash to call Labour “corrupt”. While a minority, it is a significant figure supporting a very serious charge.
There is a gap appearing between rank-and-file Labour supporters and their power-crazed elite and any up-and-coming Labour members who want there to be a viable Labour party in the near future would do well to consider the damage being done at the head.