Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Labour shifts focus from Grey Lynn to West Auckland

• Dr Bryce Edwards writes:

The days of the Labour Government being associated with middle class social liberalism look to be numbered. Soon-to-be Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni are heralding a major shift in emphasis away from the constituencies and ideologies of liberal Grey Lynn and Wellington Central towards the working class politics of West Auckland and the Hutt Valley, where the two new leaders are based.

Hipkins and Sepuloni were elected yesterday and immediately started repositioning their Government away from what might be called the affluent “woking class” towards the “working class”. Gone is an emphasis on cultural politics, and in its place is a laser-like focus on the economy and delivery of better public services to ordinary citizens.

In his first speech, Hipkins said:

“My focus will be on the here and now and the bread and butter issues that people care about.”

He explained his big priority is dealing with the cost of living crisis, followed by jobs, crime, education, and health.