British Prime Minister Tony Blair saw himself as a ‘moderniser’. New Labour was his answer to the challenges of modernity. But, despite his best efforts, he remained stuck in the past.
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Detainees in Afghanistan: Why are our soldiers allowed more secrets than our spies?
In honour of David Beatson and after the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s report into our spies’ work in Afghanistan, I’m re-surfacing some of Beatson’s posts from 2008 and 2009 asking questions about how our soldiers handled detainees
Read MoreThe Limits of Power: What Johnson, Trump, Ardern and Fonterra have in common
Over-reach is a common crime in politics and business. But a day of reckoning always comes, as leaders in this country and some of the world’s biggest powers are discovering to their cost
Read MoreYou can’t live in a reset
Today Labour admitted it had failed to implement the policy that, more than any other, defined and popularised the party over the past seven years. Even then, there’s little in the reset to suggest it can fix the housing crisis
Read MoreSimon Bridges' Treaty settlement tweet may foresee the future – for better or worse
Is the Ihumatao protest a turning point in our race relations, where our understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi – and the promise of ‘full and final’ settlements – gets re-evaluated and overhauled?
Read MoreLabour's obsession with avoiding one trap is leading it fair square into another
Labour is obsessed with not being seen as a ‘tax and spend’ party, but its economic caution means social issues are dominating its agenda and it risks falling into another trap with the election little more than a year away
Read MoreAbortion debate shows best of politics, which is why Peters' games are so jarring
Jacinda Ardern looks to have delivered a key election promise on a day when MPs showed how honest, civil debate works… except, that is, for Winston Peters
Read MoreThe greying of the Greens
The Greens’ stubborn incrementalism and James Shaw’s ruthlessness with dissent is diluting support inside the party is hastening the day when it faces its own revolution or replacement on the left
Read MoreLet’s do This: A guide to the Third Way. The Giddens Project Part 4
In the minds of most social democratic politicians, the Third Way is yesterday’s news. But it hasn’t been that easy to come up with an alternative vision of progress. Maybe what Giddens had to say might yet be a good starting point – if only to disagree
Read MoreDear ministers, here's a solution for Ihumatao
The debate at Ihumatao has become a battle over whether or not to build houses. What about a third option?
Read MoreThe best way through to the end of life
Conscience and consultation are good paths through the mire of emotional and controversial policies such as euthanasia. But referendums are key to ensuring voters are heard
The End of Life bill has been read a second time and is now heading for the House for further debate. Personally, I support the proposal. I don't ever expect to take advantage of the Bill's provisions myself, but as I see this is it my life – inasmuch as it is possible, how I end it should be my decision and mine alone.
Read MoreThe emergence of the Third Way: From Douglas to Clark (via Clinton & Co)
In part three, after the new right revolution of the 1980s, social democratic parties such as Labour were searching their souls. Then came new ideas and new 'third way' leaders such as Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, with answers to the identity crisis
First way – the state, Keynesian demand management, the working class as the base of support. Second way – free-market, reduce the scope of the state and cut taxes, relative indifference to social justice. Third Way – well that's the question.
Read MoreLet's keep things in proportion, shall we?
Would permitting terminally ill people to obtain a consenting doctor's help to end their life really undermine our entire system of law? Yeah ... nah.
Grant Illingworth QC is concerned that if David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill is enacted, we somehow would be breaching the social contract on which our entire system of law rests.
Read MoreImagine a world of speech without rules ...
The ACT Party's "plan to protect freedom of expression" is long on aspiration, short on detail, and would usher in an extremely unpleasant society should it ever be put into place.
This morning I had a chat to RNZ’s Morning Report about the ACT Party’s “plan to protect freedom of expression”.
Read MoreDear friends: please stop hating on Clarke Gayford
Everyone loses when families become fair game. That goes for the attacker as well as the target
Read MoreJustice denied is not justice at all
Our Court of Appeal thinks that China's criminal justice system is so unsafe that it simply cannot try cases fairly - and our government ministers can't really trust China's promises that it will do better.
Read MoreControversy Creates Cash: Simon Bridges and the Monday Night Wars
The Leader of the Opposition forced a No Contest and inflicted a Dusty finish on the Wellbeing Budget... a story of politics through the lens of professional wrestling
Read MoreGabriel Makhlouf's already had three strikes. Can he really avoid being 'out'?
You don't have to believe the conspiracy theories to see that Treasury Secretary Gabriel Makhlouf is in serious trouble. A new inquiry will have to uncover something yet unknown to excuse the three strikes he committed last week
Read MoreSometimes with politics, you should sweat the small stuff
While delving into the details of how Simon Bridges got hold of Budget 2019 details can bring out partisan nastiness and seem like nothing compared to the lives of real people, process matters and it‘s good someone is keeping watch
Read MoreNew Times arising: The Giddens Project blogs II
In part two, the development of New Times thinking in reaction to urgent changes in the late 20th century, as those on the left struggled to respond to social upheaval, globalisation and the rise of a new politics dominated by the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Roger Douglas
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