Jim Anderton - Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

Parliament of New Zealand
Years Term Electorate List Party
1984–1987 41st Sydenham Labour
1987–1989 42nd Sydenham Labour
1989–1990 Changed allegiance to: NewLabour
1990–1991 43rd Sydenham NewLabour
1991–1993 Changed allegiance to: Alliance
1993–1996 44th Sydenham Alliance
1996–1999 45th Wigram 1 Alliance
1999–2002 46th Wigram 1 Alliance
2002–2005 47th Wigram 1 Progressive
2005–2008 48th Wigram 1 Progressive
2008–2011 49th Wigram 1 Progressive

In the 1984 general election, Anderton stood successfully as the Labour candidate for Sydenham in Christchurch, becoming a member of the Fourth Labour Government. He soon came into conflict with the party's leadership, and became one of the most outspoken critics of Minister of Finance Roger Douglas. Douglas and his allies, Richard Prebble and David Caygill, were determined to implement radical reforms of the country's economic system, known unofficially as "Rogernomics". This involved a monetarist approach to controlling inflation, the removal of tariffs and subsidies, and the privatisation of state assets, all of which were regarded by Anderton as a betrayal of the party's left-wing roots, and an abandonment of the party's election platform.

Anderton's severe criticism of Douglas and his reforms earned him the enmity of many within the party, including some of those who otherwise shared Anderton's frustration; his public comments were seen as damaging the party's public image.

Read more about this topic:  Jim Anderton

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