Ground shifts under election campaignWarwick Smith Ardern announcing a housing policy in Palmerston NorthOPINION: Just as this election campaign hit full speed, the opening of the Government's books prompted more gear shifts than an episode of Top Gear. Because National wants to box Labour leader Jacinda Ardern into a corner on tax, where Labour has misfired on numerous fronts. Ardern's move on Wednesday to categorically rule out any rise to personal income tax or GST is an indication that the attack ads may have been getting traction. She also scaled back the scope of a tax working party once in Government, including ruling out a capital gains tax on the family home or unrealised capital gains, to further blunt National's attack lines. Because National's attack ads are running on Facebook and other social media accounts its impossible to know how pervasive they have been.

Source: Stuff August 23, 2017 08:15 UTC