Centrist vs Rightist

A few excitable commentators have been proclaiming that John Key has suddenly shedded his centrist tendencies and turned into a raving right winger.

Now certainly is true that stuff around ACC and prisons are more “right” than “centre”, but both were clearly signalled prior to the election.

But the hypebole got me thinking that it would be interesting to look at all the major Key initiatives since the election, and crudely classify them as “centrist” or “rightist”. Basically I define “centrist” as doing somethign that you would not generally expect from a conservative or right wing administration, or at least something that goes against the stereotype that people try and apply to them.

So first let us look at the major “rightist” things Key has done. This is off memory so I welcome additional ones for either list in the comments.

Rightist

1. Reintroducing Titular Honours*
2. Looking to reduce contributions to NZ Super Fund
3. Delay and review the Emissions Trading Scheme*
4. Canning some minor environmental programmes
5. Likely reduction in some ACC entitlements
6. Allowing privately managed prisons*
7. Public Service expenditure cuts*
8. 90 day probation period law*
9. “Boot Camp” legislation*
10. Dumped some inquiries into women’s pay

An asterix means that it was referred to in pre-election policy or speeches.

Now what are the Centrist initiatives:

Centrist

1. Doing a deal with Maori Party, when it wasn’t necessary*
2. Student loan writeoffs*
3. Agree to review of Foreshore & Seabed law
4. Proposed pay freeze for MPs
5. Increased minimum wage to keep pace with inflation, despite recession
6. Not ruling out cancelling or suspending post 2009 tax cuts
7. Advocate state bailouts of iconic NZ companies
8. Wants 40% of Super Fund invested in NZ*
9. Subsidising employees who go to nine day fortnights
10. Increased accountability for security services
11. Advocating for Maori flag to be flown on Waitangi Day
12. Funding new rolling stock for rail
13. Supports building a national cycleway
14. Responsible for delaying s92A of Copyright Act
15. A transitional relief package for those made redundant*
16. Enthusiastic participation in Big Gay Out (could you imagine a Howard or Bolger doing so?)
17. Has been praised by leading unionist for constructive attitude over Jobs Summit
18. Backing the person he beat for a top UN job
19. Policy to not sell any SOEs*
20. Insulating 10,000 state houses

Now not all of these are of equal value (and there may be some more I missed), but I think it helps puts things in perspective.

Key is a center-right politician. He is not “Labour lite”. But he is centre-right not “right”.

And the public are not stupid. There is a reason he is so popular – it is because he follows his political instincts (which are centrist), not because he has the most cunning smartest dastardly PR team in history who have conned every journalist in NZ into believing he is something he isn’t.