David Seymour’s Social Media Smackdown: The Left’s Hypocrisy Laid Bare
The Regulatory Standards Bill might not be perfect, but it’s a step toward cutting the red tape that strangles Kiwi businesses and lives.
David Seymour, New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader, is catching flak for doing what he does best: refusing to play nice with the sanctimonious left. His recent social media posts, calling out opponents of his Regulatory Standards Bill with the term “Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome,” have the usual suspects clutching their pearls and crying foul. But let’s cut through the noise—this is nothing more than the left dishing out shade and then howling when it’s returned with interest. Seymour’s not breaking any rules; he’s just playing the game better than his critics, and they can’t handle it.
The Regulatory Standards Bill, a cornerstone of ACT’s coalition agreement with National and New Zealand First, is designed to bring transparency to government regulation. It demands consistency assessments to show how new laws might impact Kiwis’ rights and wallets. Sounds reasonable, right? Not if you’re part of the chorus of academics, activists, and Labour MPs who’ve decided it’s their mission to paint Seymour as the devil incarnate. They’ve been hammering the bill with claims it threatens everything from public health to the Treaty of Waitangi. Seymour’s response? A series of cheeky Facebook posts, dubbed “Victim of the Day,” where he names and shames critics for what he calls “factually incorrect statements.” He’s not wrong—many of the bill’s opponents have been caught peddling exaggerated or outright false narratives.
Enter the outrage brigade. Labour leader Chris Hipkins, ever the champion of performative virtue, called Seymour’s posts “inconsistent” with the behavior expected of a Minister of the Crown. He went as far as labeling them “online harassment,” whining that targeting individuals—especially academics—is a step too far. Funny how Hipkins didn’t bat an eyelid when his own party was slinging mud at Seymour or anyone else who dared challenge their dogma. The left loves to play the victim when their tactics are turned against them, quivering like a dog trying to pass razor blades the moment someone fights back.
Then there’s Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau, who’s taken her gripes straight to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, penning a letter accusing Seymour of harassment. This is the same Tory Whanau who’s been floundering in her re-election campaign, desperate for any spotlight to distract from her own troubles. Her letter to Luxon is a masterclass in political grandstanding—crying a river of crocodile tears over Seymour’s posts while conveniently ignoring her own side’s penchant for venomous rhetoric. Luxon, to his credit, will likely do precisely nothing about it. Why? Because there’s nothing to do. Seymour’s posts don’t breach the Cabinet Manual, despite the left’s fevered claims otherwise. He’s not inciting violence or breaking laws; he’s just calling out nonsense with a bit of flair.
The hypocrisy here is thicker than a Waikato fog. The left has spent years weaponising social media to smear their opponents, from branding conservatives as racists to dismissing dissent as misinformation. Yet when Seymour flips the script, suddenly it’s an assault on academic freedom and a threat to democracy. One academic, Dame Anne Salmond, even compared Seymour’s tactics to Donald Trump’s, as if a few snarky Facebook posts are akin to storming the Capitol. Another critic, non other than Snjana Hottotuwa, a man who sees a conspiracy everywhere from his desk in Sri Lanka, called it a “dangerous evolution in political communication,” accusing Seymour of orchestrating “public intimidation” through coordinated social media amplification. Give me a break. If you’re going to sling shade at a bill with wild claims about it gutting public health or Māori rights, don’t be surprised when the bill’s architect calls you out by name.
Seymour’s not backing down, and why should he? At a post-Cabinet press conference, standing in for Luxon, he dismissed the criticism as overblown, arguing his posts were “playful fun” meant to highlight the absurdity of his critics’ claims. He’s right to point out the difference between calling someone deranged and suggesting they’re suffering from a “curious syndrome” that leads to falsehoods. It’s a clever jab, not a Cabinet Manual violation. And let’s be real—the bill’s opponents aren’t exactly debating in good faith. From claims of “bots” driving fake submissions to accusations of breaching Treaty principles, the attacks on the bill have been heavy on hyperbole and light on facts. Seymour’s just holding a mirror up to their nonsense.
The left’s meltdown over Seymour’s posts reveals their double standards. They’re happy to dish it out, whether it’s Labour MPs swearing at him in select committees or activists flooding social media with vitriol. But when Seymour hits back with a bit of wit, suddenly it’s a national scandal. This isn’t about harassment; it’s about control. The left wants to dictate the terms of debate, silencing dissent while pretending they’re the victims. Seymour’s not playing their game. He’s exposing their tactics and laughing while he does it.
The Regulatory Standards Bill might not be perfect, but it’s a step toward cutting the red tape that strangles Kiwi businesses and lives. Seymour’s fighting for a principle—transparency in regulation—that should resonate with anyone tired of bureaucratic overreach. His critics, meanwhile, are fighting to protect their ability to grandstand without pushback. If they can’t handle a few spicy social media posts, maybe they should rethink their strategy. In the meantime, Seymour’s out here playing chess while they’re stuck crying checkers.