Michael McLaren says Anthony Albanese has taken the risky step of making several captain calls this week as he prioritises the whims of his base.

He has called out Albo for focusing on dividing and conquering the voting public and, in particular, his base, who seemingly prioritise everything but the economy.

“They were never about improving the fundamentals of housing affordability, because they won’t. It was always about gesturing to that identified cohort Labor has chosen to court and, in an economically damaging way, say ‘we’ve got your back,’ he said.

“The increasing political deference to tribalism over unity has further alienated the public, who are growing concerned that we are failing to assimilate such massive numbers into the broader Australian way of life,” he added.

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