Labour falls for the trap

Yes, oh yes. Darren Hughes has fallen into Steven Joyce’s trap. Look at this wonderful press release:

“The people of Mt Albert are very clear. They want a deep tunnel. Labour supports that view,” Darren Hughes said.

And Labour will force all taxpayers to for up an exra $1,000 or so to keep a few hundred voters happy.

Labour will spend $3 billion on a tunnel, so long as they retain the Mt Albert seat. Darren shoudl be the Senator for Alaska!

“It is disappointing that from what Transport Minister Steven Joyce has said today, it is clear the Government is not prepared to fund the option of a deep tunnel that the people of Auckland overwhelmingly support.

Bzzt. Not the people of Auckland. The people of Mt Albert may support the $3 billion tunnel, but I know which option Auckland motorists and taxpayers will support.

“Instead it will go with a compromise that provides second-best solutions for the people of Mt Albert and the future needs of Auckland.

Actually the reoad will be more future proofed, as it can easily be expanded to six lanes – unlike the tunnel.

“Melissa Lee’s candidacy has now been thoroughly undermined by Prime Minister John Key who is effectively dismissing her views as irrelevant,” Darren Hughes said.

“Mr Key knows the people of Mt Albert are overwhelmingly opposed to the surface option, and that Melissa Lee is completely out of step with local opinion.

And here Darren falls for it again. His only focus is the by-election. Yes it is quite possible this will make it easier for Labour to retain the seat. But they will now be painted as the worst sort of pork barrel politicians who even in a global recession are prepared to fritter away between $1 billion and $1.7 billion on buying a few hundred votes.

Labour are so focused on the by-election they have forgotten the real game is about the 2011 election.