Labour’s mixed messages on new taxes

Audrey Young writes:

Despite attempts by Labour to downplay ill-discipline by MPs about a wealth tax, there is only one clear answer that Labour candidates should be giving on the hustings to questions about it. It’s campaigning 101 and it goes like this:

“If Labour is elected to again lead the next Government, it will be on the promise not to introduce a wealth tax or a capital gains tax in the next term. It was a decision endorsed by the caucus and Labour’s New Zealand Council and we will keep our promise.”

And when they are asked whether they personally support a wealth tax or a capital gains tax, they should be saying:

“My opinion does not matter other than my support for the party’s position. What matters is what Labour is promising and our promise to Kiwis is no wealth tax or CGT for the next three years and we will keep our promise.”

They should not be saying “Yes, I personally support a wealth tax but I support our leader 100 per cent.”

Anyone who says “yes, but…” either does not understand how to campaign or is happy to sabotage their party’s campaign.

Labour are looking to lose 30 MPs or so. It is not surprising that some of them are sabotaging the campaign by trying to shore up support with local progressives by declaring that they personally would love to hike taxes.

Chris Bishop, National’s campaign manager, is on the lookout for any breaches of the party line by Labour candidates. Previously, all National had to go on was conjecture over the fact that the Green Party and Te Pati Maori support a wealth tax.

With new material being fed back to him about loose comments by MPs such as Ibrahim Omer in Wellington Central, Ingrid Leary in Taieri, Tracey McLellan in Banks Peninsular, and Glen Bennett in New Plymouth, Bishop has seized upon the issue.

If Labour gets to form Government, there will be many Labour MPs keen to support an asset tax.