Urban Liberals

Ruth Laugesen writes about National is keen to attract more support from urban liberals and MPs Katherine Rich and Chris Finlayson have set up a group of “blue libs”.

The article covers very well the challenge that National has – to attract more centrist voters, yet in such a way it doesn’t drive off current supporters who took the party from 21% to 38%.

Also useful stuff about how wanting to reform the RMA is seen as being unconcerned about the environment. The reality is that the changes mooted would have almost no negative impacts on the environment – they would just allow decisions to be made quicker etc. And the reality with climate change is that Labour have dumped the Kyoto Tax and the Fart Tax, so the difference between the main parties is more one of rhetoric than substance.