Destination: Next Progressive Majority

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 pm, May 4th, 2015 - 4 comments
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The Fabian Society invites all those interested to join a discussion with Sir Michael Cullen, Peter Harris, Sarah Helm, Tracey Martin MP, Richard Harman and Lyndy McIntyre at  St  Andrew’s on the Terrace, Wellington, on Sunday 10th May at 1pm. Ideas on strategy, economy, party relations, communication and organising will all be canvassed. Read more and register here.


The Destination:Next Progressive Majority is a seminar intended for those who wish to see a change of government in 2017 to a more progressive social democratic policy agenda and ethos.

The first of these seminars in 2015 will pose the critical questions that need to be addressed and answered if this outcome is to be realised. Basic assumptions are that:

  • overall political performance will need to improve significantly

  • fiscal and economic policy will need to be agreed

  • credible party political co-operation will be a sine qua non

  • political communication will need to gain voter support

  • political organisation will need to be based on voter & community issues

Speakers

Hon Sir Michael Cullen – an overall picture of what needs to be done politically to achieve a change to progressive government

Peter Harris – fiscal and economic policy for a progressive government

Sarah Helm/Tracey Martin MP – political co-operation for progressive government

Richard Harman – political communication in the 21st century

Lyndy McIntyre – community organisation for political change

Our MC will be Sandra Grey. The Fabians will be represented by Mike Smith.

Sunday 10 May 1:00-4:15pm        St Andrew’s Church, 30 The Terrace, Wellington

Although attendance is free, early registration is encouraged as seating is strictly limited.

All welcome. You can register for the Wellington event on the NZ Fabian Society Facebook page or on the Fabians website here.

Sir Michael Cullen was Labour Deputy Prime Minister from 2002-2008. Peter Harris is an economic consultant and director who has worked in unions and government. Sarah  Helm is the General Manager of the Green Party. Tracey Martin MP is the Deputy Leader of NZ First. Richard Harman has had an extensive TV career in political reporting and comment and currently produces Politik. Lyndy McIntyre organises for the Living Wage campaign.

4 comments on “Destination: Next Progressive Majority ”

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  1. Isaac 1
    4 May 2015 at 8:42 pm

    While Deputy Labour Leader 1996–2008, Sir Michael was only Deputy PM from 2002 – 2008. (Ever a lurker going back to Lurking)

  2. Mike Smith 2
    4 May 2015 at 9:26 pm

    Thanks – fixed it

  3. Murray Simmonds 3
    5 May 2015 at 6:56 am

    They won’t make any progress until the take a stand on one of the biggest issues facing this country (after the housing bubble, climate change and child poverty): That is the rise and rise of the multinationals and their dominance over the economies of the countries they have invaded.

    Labour has been just as careful not to step on the toes of the multinationals as ‘Nathional” has been to date. It has shown itself to be inept in opposing the blatant power grab being foisted upon us by the multinationals under the guise of a pan-Pacific “Trade” agreement.

    Labour, like national, know exactly which side their bread is buttered on when it comes to lobby money from the big corporates.

    http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/04/10/the-2015-british-general-election-capitalisms-one-horse-race/

    If you read that article and replace the words ‘Tory’ with ‘National’ and ‘British Labour party’ with ‘NZ Labour party you will see that the arguments raised are just as applicable to the current British election as they will be to the NZ 2017 election.

    If anything, NZ politics will be EVEN MORE under the heel of the big corporations by 2017 as Britain is at the moment, thanks in no small measure to the Pan Pacific “not about trade” agreement.

    Just one paragraph from Todhunter’s excellent article:

    “The impact and power of think tanks, lobbying and cronyism means that the major parties merely provide the illusion of choice and democracy to a public that is easily manipulated courtesy of a toothless and supine corporate media. The knockabout point-scoring of party politics serves as entertainment for a public that is increasingly disillusioned with politics.
    The upshot is that the main parties have all accepted economic neoliberalism and the financialisation of the British economy and all that it has entailed: weak or non-existent trade unions, an ideological assault on the public sector, the offshoring of manufacturing, deregulation, privatisation and an economy dominated by financial services.
    In Britain, long gone are the relatively well-paid manufacturing jobs that helped build and sustain the economy. In its place, the country has witnessed the imposition of a low taxation regime, low-paid and insecure ‘service sector’ jobs (no-contract work, macjobs, call centre jobs – much of which soon went abroad), a real estate bubble, credit card debt and student debt, which all helped to keep the economy afloat and maintain demand during the so-called boom years under Tony Blair. Levels of public debt spiraled, personal debt became unsustainable and the deregulated financial sector demanded the public must write down its own gambling debts.”

    Todhunter is writing of course about Great Britain. But it all sounds exactly like NZ to my way of thinking.

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