Policy imitation is the best form of flattery says Alliance Party

Alliance Party list candidate, Quentin Findlay said that he was amused that while Alliance policies and its message were proving popular, the party was still struggling in the polls.

“There is an adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Mr Findlay said.

He was reminded of this saying as a consequence of the number of other parties that had resorted to adopting Alliance policies over the election campaign, especially as a consequence of the recent economic crisis.

This comment was made after recent political announcements by other political parties which have included:
• Promises to lower GST including on food;
• The announcement of universal student allowances from 2012 by the Labour Party;
• Labour and the Progressives claiming Kiwi Bank and paid parental leave all as their own doing;
• Universal tax free income thresholds by various parties;
• Low-interest housing loans.

While, these parties were taking aspects of Alliance policy, voters would be ‘short changed’ later on.

The Alliance is concerned that if the Maori Party, for example, were to coalesce with National then the no GST on food pledge would go out the door. Similarly, the party is sceptical about Labour keeping its promise to make student allowances universally available as with the current economic climate and pledges to make further tax cuts, this may not be viable.

The Alliance has a fully costed manifesto and has worked on the specifics of policies such as GST, Financial Transactions Tax and Universal Student Allowance for the past decade.

“The Alliance is the real McCoy,” Mr Findlay said. “If these parties or candidates are really serious about these policies then they should endorse the Alliance and voters should vote for the Alliance on Election Day.”

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