Ryan Bridge: Centrist voters will be confused so far this election

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Aug 13, 2026 · 2m · transcript

If you're a centrist, maybe a softer swing voter in this election, you're right to feel, so far at least, that the whole thing's a bit of a ruse.

The left and right blocs are basically going to run campaigns against each other, rather than for something else.

How do we know this?

Last Sunday the Nats put out budget responsibility rules they so far haven't been responsible enough to follow themselves.

Their main argument here is basically, at least we'll do better than the other lot.

Which, if you're worried about debt, is probably true.

Labour is boxing itself into a fiscal corner.

If it is…