Lessons from Blair for National and Labour

This week’s column at NZ Herald:

I think the time has come where National can do better than be more competent and pleasant managers of Labour’s health, education and welfare systems. The Government is thankfully looking seriously at reforming the welfare system, but the education system for example badly needs a decentralised performance pay system for teachers. Will National be content with national standards (which are entirely laudable), or will they propose more substantive reforms?

I also nominate the Labour MP whom I think could make the most credible advocate of reform.