A CENTRIST BORE

Possibly watching paint dry would of been more exciting than watching the first leaders debate between Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins. 

THE FIRST LEADERS debate was played out without an audience and what a pedestrian and turgid affair it was. I doubt that even an audience whooping it up would of ignited a debate that barely got out of first gear. 

Part of the problem was that Jacinda Arden was determined not to debate with Judith Collins. Perhaps under the impression she was at one of her 1pm press conferences, Ardern seemed intent on addressing John Campbell  rather than engaging in anything as untidy as an argument with Collins - who did seem up for it. 

Some of Jacinda Ardern's supporters have claimed on social media she was 'too polite' but this was a calculated attempt by her team to portray Ardern as above the fray of everyday politics and who just doesn't have time to deal with minor irritants like Judith Collins -or, it seems, a general election. Unfortunately for Ardern, she left the impression that she was killing time before doing something much more important. This was a curiously desultory performance from a political leader who just three years ago campaigned on a platform of change and transformation. How things have changed. 

The main difficulty, of course, is that Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins lead two thoroughly centrist parties that struggle to disagree with each other, such has been the convergence of policy. Case in point. John Campbell brought up the issue of a capital gains tax relatively early in the debate but any debate stopped before it got started when both party leaders declared their opposition to a  CGT. 

At a time of economic crisis our political system is so beholden to vested interests that both Labour and National have nothing to offer in the way of new ideas and that lack of vision was patently evident throughout the debate. I doubt many viewers would of been inspired by what they heard. There was certainly nothing on offer for the working class.

I agree with one Hamish Rutherford who tweeted after the debate : 'John Campbell really nailed this. I don’t even remember who the other two were.'