It’s getting crowded on the right

Written By: - Date published: 10:43 pm, August 3rd, 2011 - 34 comments
Categories: election 2011 - Tags: ,

Is it just me, or is it getting pretty crowded on the right wing of NZ politics? National, ACT, Peter Dunne, the Maori Party, and now this:

Colin Craig announces new Conservative Party

Businessman and failed Auckland mayoral candidate Colin Craig has announced he is starting a new party to contest the November general election, amid rumours he will stand against Act candidate John Banks in Epsom.

In a conference this morning, Mr Craig announced the ‘Conservative Party’ would stand candidates in every electorate possible.

Mr Craig was still considering a head-to-head battle with fellow Super City mayoral candidate John Banks, who is standing in Epsom for Act.

I really don’t know what Craig expects to accomplish, other than to siphon off and waste a tiny percentage of right wing vote. But on that basis I wish him and the Conservatives all the best of course!

34 comments on “It’s getting crowded on the right ”

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  1. Policy Parrot 1
    3 August 2011 at 11:13 pm

    The happenings on the right certainly are interesting. Unfortunately for them, I still think ACT, with all of its negative media attention over the recent parliamentary term is beyond repair. That goes for its current parliamentary representation and party leadership as well.

    The best thing they could do, is combine all of the undamaged/unblemished RWNJ forces into a new political movement, perhaps Mr. Craigs? But of course, they wouldn’t be able to do this until the new parliamentary term.

  2. NickC 2
    4 August 2011 at 12:09 am

    I think Act and Colin Craig are doing a double team on NZ First. Act goes in to steal their racist vote. Colin goes for the populist vote. Together they ensure that NZ First can never reach 5%. Perhaps these are the ‘dark forces’ which Winston frequently speaks of.

    Either way, this is the most noble form of political suiside I’m sure you would agree 😀

  3. queenstfarmer 3
    4 August 2011 at 12:14 am

    What’s the bet they quickly become a “social conservative” party, sort of Christian Heritage mk II (or III or IV or whatever we’re up to). Well if it puts Act out of its misery then some good may come of it.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      4 August 2011 at 12:21 am

      Do you think that Craig seriously believes such a party (if that is his intention) has a serious chance of crossing 5%?

      Or is this some kind of cunning Right Wing feint, distract and merge?

      • Pete George 3.1.1
        4 August 2011 at 7:25 am

        Craig says the Party was aiming for “at least 10 percent of the party vote”.

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/5381484/New-political-party-will-contest-election

        It will be hard enough getting 500 members (they could manage that via religious groups) but I think 1% will be a struggle.

        He has a history of a big wallet for campaigning and advertising, hence the media will give him plenty of free attention as well, but Christian conservative parties have struggled to get popular support in the past.

        • queenstfarmer 3.1.1.1
          4 August 2011 at 9:01 am

          Struggle would be an understatement. Wasn’t that long ago that that awful Act “ad man” reckoned (apparently seriously) that Dr Brash would take Act to 40%. Maybe he meant 0.4%…

      • mickysavage 3.1.2
        4 August 2011 at 1:21 pm

        Craig does have more money than sense.  He spent $500k on the March for Democracy and managed to get 5,000 people there.  
         
        I am sure that he will get the party registered but I suspect he will be woefully short of the MMP threshold.
         
        This is not a bad thing.  A couple of percent of right wing vote being wasted could just about do it.
         

    • mik e 3.2
      4 August 2011 at 12:24 am

      IF it puts ACT out it will put National out to

      • queenstfarmer 3.2.1
        4 August 2011 at 8:59 am

        Not on current polls. But if things change, then possibly.

        Could be a Bob Jones / NZ Party ploy by Mr Craig?

  4. tsmithfield 4
    4 August 2011 at 6:26 am

    This could work against the left if they are harbouring vague hopes of a coalition including NZ First. The conservative party will tend to target NZ First voters (elderly conservative voters), so may make it less likely for NZ First to get over 5%.

    • Zetetic 4.1
      4 August 2011 at 7:18 am

      been clear for some time that NZF won’t get back.

      If the Conservative plan was to steal NZF votes, they wouldn’t be explicitly out attacking ACT. Craig wouldn’t be standing in Epsom.

    • The Voice of Reason 4.2
      4 August 2011 at 8:04 am

      Actually, Winston appears to be trying to hoover up loose Labour votes by pitching leftish policy, such as tinkering with student loans. NZF have a solid 2-3% in the polls, which will grow as the election gets closer.
       
      I would think that Colin Craig is hoping that voters in Epsom will reject the Nat/Act manipulation and make him the MP or at least give him enough party votes to be the basis of  the 5% he otherwise needs to get into parliament. He’ll fall well short of both, of course, but he might syphon off enough votes to make it a tight finish.
       
      I still think Winston is going to be back in Parliament, just not sure on what side of the house.

      • Lanthanide 4.2.1
        4 August 2011 at 9:46 am

        I’m doubting he’ll get back in. I think Hone has sucked up the media’s attention as the political rabble-rouser. Winston’s past it.

  5. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 5
    4 August 2011 at 8:34 am

    I wouldn’t worry about the vote being split. This party will siphon off the votes of Mr Craig, his mum and four of his mates from the croquet club.

  6. prism 6
    4 August 2011 at 9:12 am

    What does Colin Craig’s new Conservative Party expect to accomplish, other than to siphon off and waste a tiny percentage of right wing vote?

    This quote epitomises the point I have been making against democratic purists and sloganeers who all are for MMP not having any or very low threshholds. (I would say 4% would still be reasonable, plus one list MP to enable an efficient service from the party which receives very generous funding once in parliament.)

    In this case it may be that the Conservative Party believes that ACT has done its dash, that the Epsom electorate is the right nest for a new right wing party to fledge, and that they are grumpy about ACT and ready to embrace a new shining RW party carrying no unpleasant baggage, and they want to follow ACTs success in inserting themselves sideways through the narrow gap that winning an electorate seat will give them.

    • felix 6.1
      4 August 2011 at 10:23 am

      How does any of this relate to a threshold?

      • prism 6.1.1
        4 August 2011 at 10:58 am

        @felix
        I am using this example of a tiny party (or independent) being able to insert themselves into parliament with a very small number of voters. At present it’s 5% or an electorate seat. I think that’s about right.

        I don’t see that the country would be well served by having no threshhold with numerous little parties that had a narrow focus. That situation arose at the beginning of MMP but most were not able to gain enough support for a seat in parliament.

        • felix 6.1.1.1
          4 August 2011 at 11:38 am

          What do you mean “insert”? It seems to me they’re trying to get voted into parliament.

          And why shouldn’t they? Why doesn’t Colin Craig have the same right as anyone else to put himself forward?

          • prism 6.1.1.1.1
            4 August 2011 at 1:02 pm

            Sorry Felix I am trying to look at the situation from two viewpoints. I can’t make my point clear to you it seems.

            • felix 6.1.1.1.1.1
              4 August 2011 at 3:16 pm

              I get that you don’t want lots of small parties in parliament, I just don’t get why.

  7. toad 7
    4 August 2011 at 9:24 am

    I did their test, and to my horror discovered I am 7/19 Conservative. It is a pretty weird mix of policies, although I wish Colin Craig all the best in Epsom. At least he won’t bring any other nut jobs in with him if he gets elected.

    • felix 7.1
      4 August 2011 at 10:25 am

      Test is pants. Many of the questions are logically impossible for an intelligent person to answer.

    • lprent 7.2
      4 August 2011 at 12:21 pm

      …I wish Colin Craig all the best in Epsom. At least he won’t bring any other nut jobs in with him if he gets elected

      🙂 There has got to be a really good campaign slogan for him in there…

    • Vicky32 7.3
      5 August 2011 at 5:00 pm

      I did their test, and to my horror discovered I am 7/19 Conservative.

      To my equal horror, I am 6/19! That I did not expect – and oh, some of those questions are so loaded!

  8. Maui 8
    4 August 2011 at 9:52 am

    Where is the YouTube of John Key hyperventilating about capital gains tax ?

    http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=john+key+on+letterman&aq=1z&oq=john+key

    • prism 8.1
      4 August 2011 at 11:01 am

      @Maui
      Had a quick look at the link and like this translation of our dialect – “Neshional’s Ejucation Palsy”.
      Incidentally what has this to do with numerous right wing parties?

      • Maui 8.1.1
        4 August 2011 at 1:24 pm

        @prism

        Re. “what has this to do with numerous right wing parties?”

        .. by definition, most are against capital gains tax.

        A looping YouTube link of John Key hyperventilating about capital gains tax would be priceless

        Quote: “the country would go screaming backwards !”

  9. Lindsey 9
    4 August 2011 at 10:10 am

    Don’t forget he was also the guy who coughed up lots of $$$ to have a jackboot march against the repeal of S59. Keep a look out for Tea Party type rhetoric.

  10. her 10
    4 August 2011 at 11:17 am

    I’d rather vote for Sue Bradford than Colin Craig but I’m going to help him. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

  11. Psycho Milt 11
    4 August 2011 at 12:03 pm

    I really don’t know what Craig expects to accomplish, other than to siphon off and waste a tiny percentage of right wing vote.

    I think “annoy John Banks” is pretty high on his list. But what the hell, if he can waste a few thousand right wing party votes I join you in wishing him all the best for the election…

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