October 24, 2008 10:45am by David Farrar

No money for the kids

This week’s Dispatch from Helengrad:

The kids (the minor parties) are getting excited over what their post-election pocket money will be, but they do not seem to have realised that Mum and Dad have run out of money just paying for their own treats.

Parties such as the Greens, Maori Party and NZ First have scores of high spending policies, and don’t seem to realise that they are unlikely to get any of them. The cupboard is now just bare.

My scorecard is:

  • Best Play of the Week: Labour gets a C- for belatedly halting their big spending promises
  • Worst Play of the Week: Greens get a D for their criteria for post-election support
  • EFA Breach of the Week: ACT gets a D for their lack of disclosure over free rent
  • Scandal of the Week: Yang Liu is sitting on a B- but due to be upgraded to an A+ if allegations that he is an Asian organised crime boss hold true.

Comments and feedback can be left over at NBR.