Left Field and Beyond

The newspapers have little new to report election-wise so they are starting to recycle election night numbers and possible combinations for a coalition government. Rather boring really, although Taito Philip Field probably wants them to go away altogether.

The time before the final count is released is providing some self-reflection for the Labour Party, and no doubt the Nats as well. Because Labour shouldn't have come so close to losing this election. Time, featuring Clark and Brash on the cover, wondered how a PM in charge of a booming economy, low unemployment and general lack of disasters could be so threatened by Brash. Time, such a right-wing publication, wondering how the Left managed to do so well, and how the novice Brash was looking so good.

Jordan has noted that Labour accepts that the Nats bested them, and they will be looking at what went wrong and what went right. Although the centre-left vote held, and the Nats gained by hoovering up smaller parties, they may not be so lucky in 2008.

Opposition doesn't win elections - Governments lose them.