The latest batch of files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment to be released is reflecting poorly on the UK’s Labour Party.  

More than 1,500 pages of messages, emails, and other correspondence was released, and among them was criticism of Sir Keir Starmer by both Mandelson and other ministers. 

In May 2025, Mandelson told Minister Pat McFadden that Starmer “lacks verve”, and the same month, cabinet minister Pat McFadden criticised government policy on public spending and welfare, saying “every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others." 

UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the files are uniquely embarrassing to the Labour Party.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

The latest batch of files relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment to be released is reflecting poorly on the UK’s Labour Party. &nbsp;
More than 1,500 pages of messages, emails, and other correspondence was released, and among them was criticism of Sir Keir Starmer by both Mandelson and other ministers.&nbsp;
In May 2025, Mandelson told Minister Pat McFadden that Starmer “lacks verve”, and the same month, cabinet minister Pat McFadden criticised government policy on public spending and welfare, saying “every meeting I have is 'who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others."&nbsp;
UK Correspondent Rod Liddle told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the files are uniquely embarrassing to the Labour Party. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Rod Liddle: UK Correspondent on the latest batch of Mandelson files, rifts in the Labour Party

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/71b08a41-88e3-4c3a-b142-b45c01681709/transcript

I couldn’t understand it at the time, but you may remember four years ago then-Prime Minister Ardern did a deal with Anthony Albanese over our access to Australian citizenship and welfare. 

Essentially, they gave us a bunch of stuff we previously hadn't had. 

We get to wander in any way and time we like, a deal no other country offers, but access to welfare and citizenship was always tricky. Albanese decided to soften the approach. 

Fast forward four years and Ardern is on the beaches of New South Wales and Albanese is still in power, but being overwhelmed by Pauline Hanson, who has made immigration a calling card. 

New reportage out of Australia yesterday now tells us officials warned Albanese at the time that the move he was about to make was a mistake. It was making it too easy for Kiwis to game the system. 

For whatever reason he ignored them. Now it's coming home to roost. 

The intake of Kiwis surged 38,000 in two years. As New Zealand went into recession, ironically because of the Ardern Government, more people left and it's only this year that flood has started to dissipate. 

In the meantime, Albanese has an immigration nightmare on his hands and increasingly we're being called out. 

Hanson wants to limit our access and, given current polling, may well one day get her way. 

But perhaps the interesting aspect of the welfare side of the deal is it gives us an insight into just what sort of New Zealander went to Australia. 

For all the talk of brain drains, which has driven no small amount of angst here, the numbers would seem to indicate it was more your welfare recipient, or potential recipient, who bailed from New Zealand for a better deal in Australia. 

Can I suggest that if that is the case, then are we a lot worse off for their departure? 

If the low hanging job fruit here decided to scarper for the welfare and beer of Queensland, how was it we actually lost out? We may have had a net gain, not to be too mean to those who left. 

But the stereotype of highly educated, highly skilled folks in demand might not have been the complete picture. 

A small irony being Ardern managed to mess this country up while also, as it turns out, mucking up theirs as well. That’s quite the trick, isn't it? 

Either way given immigration is now the hottest of issues, don’t be surprised if Albanese pulls the pin on us and cancels the deal. 

I couldn’t understand it at the time, but you may remember four years ago then-Prime Minister Ardern did a deal with Anthony Albanese over our access to Australian citizenship and welfare.&nbsp;
Essentially, they gave us a bunch of stuff we previously hadn't had.&nbsp;
We get to wander in any way and time we like, a deal no other country offers, but access to welfare and citizenship was always tricky. Albanese decided to soften the approach.&nbsp;
Fast forward four years and Ardern is on the beaches of New South Wales and Albanese is still in power, but being overwhelmed by Pauline Hanson, who has made immigration a calling card.&nbsp;
New reportage out of Australia yesterday now tells us officials warned Albanese at the time that the move he was about to make was a mistake. It was making it too easy for Kiwis to game the system.&nbsp;
For whatever reason he ignored them. Now it's coming home to roost.&nbsp;
The intake of Kiwis surged 38,000 in two years. As New Zealand went into recession, ironically because of the Ardern Government, more people left and it's only this year that flood has started to dissipate.&nbsp;
In the meantime, Albanese has an immigration nightmare on his hands and increasingly we're being called out.&nbsp;
Hanson wants to limit our access and, given current polling, may well one day get her way.&nbsp;
But perhaps the interesting aspect of the welfare side of the deal is it gives us an insight into just what sort of New Zealander went to Australia.&nbsp;
For all the talk of brain drains, which has driven no small amount of angst here, the numbers would seem to indicate it was more your welfare recipient, or potential recipient, who bailed from New Zealand for a better deal in Australia.&nbsp;
Can I suggest that if that is the case, then are we a lot worse off for their departure?&nbsp;
If the low hanging job fruit here decided to scarper for the welfare and beer of Queensland, how was it we actually lost out? We may have had a net gain, not to be too mean to those who left.&nbsp;
But the stereotype of highly educated, highly skilled folks in demand might not have been the complete picture.&nbsp;
A small irony being Ardern managed to mess this country up while also, as it turns out, mucking up theirs as well. That’s quite the trick, isn't it?&nbsp;
Either way given immigration is now the hottest of issues, don’t be surprised if Albanese pulls the pin on us and cancels the deal.&nbsp;

Mike's Minute: Our access to Australia could soon be limited

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/414c4165-f58e-480f-8ae1-b4aa0178a766/transcript

Another sign of New Zealand’s growing demographic problem. 

Stats show our natural population growth has fallen to 18,700 for the year to June – the lowest rate since World War II. 

Births are at their lowest since 2003, and the number of 25 to 34 year olds is down 1.7% – adding to our productivity woes. 

Infometrics’ Lead Demographer Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking the supply of young people around the world, and with other countries facing the same issue, we can’t expect to bring in an exponential number of migrants every year. 

He says industries will be forced to improve productivity through automation and machinery and treat workers as more of a scarce resource than something they can swap in and out as needed.  

LISTEN ABOVE  

Another sign of New Zealand’s growing demographic problem.&nbsp;
Stats show our natural population growth has fallen to 18,700 for the year to June – the lowest rate since World War II.&nbsp;
Births are at their lowest since 2003, and the number of 25 to 34 year olds is down 1.7% – adding to our productivity woes.&nbsp;
Infometrics’ Lead Demographer Nick Brunsdon told Mike Hosking the supply of young people around the world, and with other countries facing the same issue, we can’t expect to bring in an exponential number of migrants every year.&nbsp;
He says industries will be forced to improve productivity through automation and machinery and treat workers as more of a scarce resource than something they can swap in and out as needed. &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Nick Brunsdon: Infometrics Principal Economist and Lead Demographer on our natural population growth falling to its lowest point since WWII

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d59cef81-3f51-46f8-aaa5-b4aa017543c5/transcript

A Labour frontbencher says a Labour government will not introduce any new taxes, except for a capital gains tax, if it wins the election. 

Leader Chris Hipkins on Monday ruled out other taxes, such as a streaming tax or tax on high-emissions vehicles. 

The party's Jobs and Incomes spokesperson Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking this will be an absolute bottom line in any post-election negotiation. 

She says tax policies of the Greens, Opportunity, or Te Pāti Māori will not see the light of day. 

LISTEN ABOVE  

A Labour frontbencher says a Labour government will not introduce any new taxes, except for a capital gains tax, if it wins the election.&nbsp;
Leader Chris Hipkins on Monday ruled out other taxes, such as a streaming tax or tax on high-emissions vehicles.&nbsp;
The party's Jobs and Incomes spokesperson Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking this will be an absolute bottom line in any post-election negotiation.&nbsp;
She says tax policies of the Greens, Opportunity, or Te Pāti Māori will not see the light of day.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE &nbsp;

Pollies: National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen on Labour ruling out tax policies from other parties, election campaigning

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/65334dcd-7f11-453d-9894-b4aa01679d12/transcript

Rod Liddle: UK Correspondent on the latest batch of Mandelson files, rifts in the Labour Party

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