Cullen concedes defeat on tax cuts

We've always suspected trhat Michael Cullen's heart wasn't really in his "offer" of tax cuts, and he pretty much confirmed it yesterday. The Herald reports: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10500404

Conceding that he won't be able to match National, Cullen argues that "less is more". But true to form, it seems as though Cullen's hated tax cuts will be in place BEFORE the election. Then again, if he rolls Clark in the next couple of weeks, will all bets be off? Hmmmm..............

Meanwhile Paula Oliver has penned a piece on the alternative approaches and considerations of Cullen and English: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10500397

Oliver also highlights the dilemma that Cullen faces having damned National's proposed tax cuts in 2005 - read this:

"A sense of deja vu surrounds Finance Minister Michael Cullen's argument that public services will suffer to fund the tax cuts National will promise in this year's election.

It's the same argument Dr Cullen made against the tax cuts that National trumpeted in the 2005 election battle.

Remember the lines? National's plan was "just crazy" and people should think about how many teachers and nurses would have to be chopped to finance those cuts.

But this time, there is a glaringly obvious difference and it's one that could make it harder for Dr Cullen to convince the public.

The difference is that this time he, too, is going to deliver tax cuts."

Cullen's past precedes him. I'm sure that "chewing gum" will get a mention throughout the year!