Budget 2018: A win for Labour
PM Jacinda Ardern and Robertson made good on their promise that this would be a predictable budget, and despite the media hyping it up, it was predictable, and went just how they said it would.
Health received a major funding boost, while Education, Foreign Affairs, Justice and the DoC all received less extravagant funding boosts.
None of that is why I call this budget a win for Labour, however. Instead, it’s Robertson’s 3.1 billion surplus thanks to his debt responsibility rules.
The left won’t be happy with the responsibility rules, as there is now 3.1 billion which they can’t spend, but, the rules have led to a 3.1 billion surplus, and this should throw off the idea that Labour can’t be trusted with the economy.
This is generally one of National’s key advantages and ways to attack Labour, but now that there is a solid 3.1 billion surplus, the wind will have been knocked right out of their sails there.
Robertson has done well with this budget, if you ask me.