When was the last time Key mentioned the ‘underclass’?

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, February 8th, 2010 - 9 comments
Categories: john key, poverty, spin - Tags:

The Emperor's new clothes had a tiki on them

I was thinking the other day about John Key’s underclass speech. It was always pure gimmickry, as was the whole exploitation of Aroha. As his first major speech as National Party leader it was designed to frame Key, the multi-millionaire currency speculator, as a good, ordinary bloke. I wondered how long they had bothered keeping up the charade that Key and his party give a damn about the poor.

I’ve searched google news, the Herald, Parliament, Stuff, and johnkey.co.nz archives for the last reference to “underclass” by Key.

It was in the first Speech from the Throne of his government, back in December 2008. It is just a passing reference (“it is in the interests of no New Zealanders, and to the detriment of us all, to allow an underclass to develop in New Zealand”) not a plan to do anything for these people. And, although the Speech from the Throne is the PM’s speech on their plans for the year ahead, it isn’t delivered by them. The Governor-General delivers it. The last time the words came from Key’s mouth was probably long before that.

Anyway, at the end of the day, words are cheap. Acts are what matters. Key’s Government has done nothing. It has awarded the most pitiful minimum wage rises in years, it has sat on its arse as unemployment has doubled, it has cancelled training courses to help people (like Aroha’s mum) off benefits, increased their ACC levies, and now it’s threatening to put up their GST so rich people can have tax cuts.

So, as we wait for another Speech from the Throne by Key, I reckon we probably will see a passing reference to the ‘underclass’ for appearance’s sake but I’m just as sure that his government will continue to fail the most vulnerable members of our society.

9 comments on “When was the last time Key mentioned the ‘underclass’? ”

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  1. BLiP 1
    8 February 2010 at 11:47 am

    . . . for King John The Clueless of Charmalot so loved the underclass that he maketh its so they go forth and mulitply . . .

  2. dave 2
    8 February 2010 at 12:21 pm

    Anyway, at the end of the day, words are cheap. Acts are what matters.

    You should have a talk to Phil Goff about that. Thats the very reason why Labour is in opposition.

  3. randal 3
    8 February 2010 at 1:14 pm

    the underclass eh.
    is that those people who wil end up paying more gst when the tax working group are through and the people who will have their council assets sold off from underneath them when the supercity goe s ahead?
    wait a minute.
    thats us!

    • Craig Glen Eden 3.1
      8 February 2010 at 2:28 pm

      Isn’t that sadly the truth Randle

    • BLiP 3.2
      8 February 2010 at 2:34 pm

      And none of the poor sods in the Radio Spud talkback taliban seem to fully realise the hip pocket implications of what they support. Or maybe they do, and really just don’t care.

      • luva 3.2.1
        9 February 2010 at 2:11 am

        Your arrogance knows no bounds.

        You actually think that Key is popular and Labour are in opposition because people do not “fully realise the hip pocket implications of what they support’

        When you fringe lefties begin to understand and accept the 5-10% of voters that jumped ship at the last election are not stupid, you will begin to win back their support. Until that day John Key can remain relaxed because there is little chance of Labour winning back their support

  4. kiwiteen123 4
    8 February 2010 at 7:17 pm

    Good points. I think he will mention it tomorrow. I’m sure someone working for him reads The Standard.

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