Clearly, Parker is highly aggrieved at Hipkins’ decision to rule out a substantially more progressive taxation regime, especially when there is such strong public openness to it. David Parker has become the progressive voice of LabourParker has thrown a real spanner in the works for Chris Hipkins at a crucial time in Labour’s re-election campaign. There will be some Labour MPs and supporters annoyed with Parker for adding to Labour’s woes, especially when the Government is already looking chaotic. He’s essentially declared a “vote of no confidence” in his own party’s tax policy. Labour needs Parker’s progressive intellectual politicsRegardless of whether Parker ever gets near the leadership again, it’s clear he has much to offer in pushing the party in a more progressive direction.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 27, 2023 13:22 UTC