The Budget

Upon hearing the details of the budget, I think it's fair to say that the Labour Government has "reached a turning point and failed to turn". The scope is there for ample tax cuts (not as large as National was offering but ample nevertheless) but because Micheal Cullen refuses to consider the possibility, his colleagues are forced to follow. The announcement of the unbundling of the local loop would have hid its deficiencies well but thanks to Michael Ryan, this budget has no camoflage.

Helen Clark is well aware of the need for a change of direction in the Finance Portfolio. But since it took her six years to get rid of an incompetent George Hawkins, she lacks the ability to remove a minister that was once a pillar of her administration but now stuck in a rut.