Ryan Bridge: National's week of law and order announcements

The award for most press releases and announcements on a single issue must got to National this week. Law and Order was front and centre - announcements about everything from first responders to coward punches. It was an assault of announcements.  Now, announcements don't make streets safer. Announcements don't fix problems on their own.  This was a targeted campaign to reinforce the idea their tough on crime. That they're on the side of the victim.  Why are they doing this? Because it's one of the now minority of issues on which they outpoll Labour - from the last Ipsos survey.  So, they've been going health for leather on law and order. Meanwhile, Labour's overtaken the right for the party most trusted to fix the economy.  I know for a lot of you listening, this is laughable. They got us into this mess, etc, etc.  And I agree with you - I think it's like a protest vote against the incumbent when cost of living is high. Would you actually go and vote for that person tomorrow? Or are you just sending a signal of unhappiness?  You never truly know, but National's clearly alive to the fact it's becoming an Achilles' heel.  The actual numbers are in range: OCR nearly neutral at 3.25%, inflation at 2.5%.  But there's a politically painful time lag between numbers getting into band and voters feeling it in their pockets.  Luxon's team have identified this problem. Their short-term solution is to bash the supermarkets. Hard. And repeatedly.  It's almost like they've finished with the mongrel mob so now they're taking on the other gangsters - Woolworths.  An announcement on "next steps" is already being touted, months out.  So, Labour bashes National on cost of living, National will bash the supermarkets.  And guess what? Nothing will happen to the prices you pay at the weekly shop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.