Letter: Reforming lessons from the New Zealand election
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Mr SIMON OSBORN
Sir: Mark Lawson's excellent article 'Labour astray in New Zealand' (8 November) reveals some lessons of that country's vote on electoral reform. What is so surprising is that neither National Party's Jim Bolger nor Labour's Mike Moore thought voting reform a big enough issue to support it.
Reform won a majority with 54 per cent backing. By comparison, Messrs Bolger and Moore could only attract a third of the votes each. It is not as if they did not know of the potential of electoral reform. Last year, after the first stage of the referendum process when change won 84 per cent of the vote, Mr Moore said: 'The people didn't speak on Saturday. They screamed.' As late as the week before polling day, eight out of ten Kiwis were telling the pollsters that no politicians would honour their promises.
An electorate that says this wants to lash out against the whole system. Just as they did in Italy in April and as the Japanese did this summer. Political reform is popular at the moment. So why did the major parties in New Zealand go into the election opposing reform?
Perhaps we in Britain should dwell on this? After all, the United Kingdom's electorate is also showing signs of unrest. County council elections this year, the European elections next?
Yours sincerely,
SIMON OSBORN
Electoral Reform Society
London, SE1
9 November
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments