Editorial: Enter the political opportunists

In the latest 1 News/Colmar Brunon poll, Jacinda Ardern fell 5 points to 39 per cent as preferred Prime Minister. Photo / Mark Mitchell

EDITORIAL

The slide in Labour's support and - perhaps more significantly - its leader has been charted in the poll ratings.

In the latest 1 News/Colmar Bruton poll this week, Jacinda Ardern fell 5 points to 39 per cent as the preferred Prime Minister, while National's Judith Collins is on 5 per cent, just one point ahead of Christopher Luxon. David Seymour's preferred Prime Minister score is more than double Collins' - on 11 points.

It is Ardern's lowest preferred Prime Minister score since before the start of the pandemic. However, Collins' approval rating also hit a new low, falling to 31.

It's not unexpected. In the US, a presidential midterm slump is one of the most regular features of the electoral cycle. Labour has also made some very unpopular decisions in response to the Covid pandemic and faces a formidable grassroots campaign against reforms in three waters, health and Auckland's housing.

Labour will be looking forward to the summer hiatus, by which time the precautionary "traffic light" measures will be tested in holding the line against massive and overwhelming outbreak.

There has been much speculation about Collins' leadership but this subsidence in support also lends itself to new, or previously discarded, options pressing forward.

There's still plenty of time before the next election, which must be held no later than January 13, 2024, when the currently elected 53rd Parliament is dissolved or expires.

If the current polling slouch persists, expect to see some familiar or fresh faces popping up. Nature abhors a vacuum, and apathetic voters are prime for turning.