THE VIRUS BITES BACK

Will Jacinda Ardern regret saying that this election is all about Covid-19?

THE LABOUR PARTY, of course, does not want to fight this election on the economic front. With the economy on the slide and with severe social distress ever more evident, Labour have been keen to keep the attention of the electorate focused on the Labour-led government's response to the coronavirus. It was no surprise to hear Jacinda Ardern tell Labour's election campaign opening that the election would be all about Covid-19. I don't think that message would of gone down particularly well with the tens of thousands of folk struggling to survive financially, but Labour was pitching its message to what it perceives to be the 'centre ground'.

Ardern and her campaign must of thought that an election victory was a slam dunk. But barely more than two days after Labour's campaign opening, four new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Auckland outside quarantine or managed isolation. Worryingly, the source of these cases is unknown. So Auckland will now be at level 3 until midnight Friday, with the rest of the country entering level 2 for the same period.

Labour will be hoping that the health authorities will be able to stamp out this outbreak quickly but it should be noted that Ardern has already indicated that a return to normal service isn't a given after Friday.

This virus has proven to be extremely virulent and persistent and if things do turn to custard, catchy slogans like 'team of five million' may not be able to save Jacinda Ardern from the public's ire. Her 'base' will support her no matter what, but the bouquets may well turn to brickbats from those not committed to  Labour's bid for re-election, especially in these increasingly fraught economic times.