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A political commentator says ousted MP Chris Carter can inflict enormous damage on the Labour Party.
Carter has confirmed to ONE News that he will not be seeking
re-election in next year's election but he will stay until
then sitting as a backbench, independent MP.
Chris Trotter says Carter is now enormously dangerous because his
future is gone and he is someone with absolutely nothing to
lose.
Trotter told TVNZ News at 8 Carter may be absorbed with the idea that Phil Goff is the great problem that Labour has to deal with and he is the only one who can see it and who has the courage to state it.
Carter was yesterday suspended from Labour's caucus after circulating an anonymous letter to media at parliament, claiming there would be a challenge to Goff's leadership.
Trotter says Carter has spent his political career in former Prime Minister Helen Clark's golden sunlight and was very much part of the inner circle. Trotter says it has been a huge adjustment for Carter to have gone from a key role to being a member of the opposition under a different, more conservative leader.
Goff must prove he really is in charge, Trotter says because if he doesn't and Carter is out there bewailing the fact that Labour is led by a man who cannot win, then the party's in trouble.
But Trotter says "you can't have a leadership spill unless you've got a contender".
Carter a force in Te Atatu
Carter's partner, Peter Kaiser, is also the Te Atatu electorate secretary and together they have ensured Labour has held the Te Atatu seat for 14 of the last 17 years.
Politically though, the seat is hot property and is back on the market.
"There'll be a queue a mile long to come to this seat to be the Labour MP, and that's great," said Carter.
The MP said there would be no by-election for the seat, nor any sour grapes from him once Labour picked someone else to stand in next year's election.
"I'll be working very hard to see that it stays a Labour seat and, whoever's selected to replace me, I'll certainly be supporting them."
He won't declare who was likely. But ONE News contacts and Labour's Facebook-style members website provided clues.
West Auckland lawyer Greg Presland was one possible contender for selection.
List MP Phil Twyford may not try out but union organiser Hamish McCracken could.
But the one who could clinch it if she wanted is lawyer Deborah Manning, who fought and won the case for high-profile refugee Ahmed Zaoui.
Manning is a Te Atatu local and ONE News was told she joined the Labour Party when she was 15. Some party admirers described her as a pint-sized Helen Clark.
But winning selection doesn't win the election and National's contender, List MP Tau Henare, was talking up chances that Carter may change his mind and quit the seat early.
"I don't think he can handle pressure, as we've seen in the last couple of months. I think he runs away, I think he's inept at the game that he tries to play," said Henare.
What do you think of the Labour caucus ousting Chris Carter and his
reaction? Have your say on our messageboard below.
What do you think of the Labour caucus ousting Chris Carter and his reaction? Have your say on our messageboard below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentGPR said on 2010-08-01 @ 13:26 NZDT: Report abusive post
oops. I think her name was Sue Bradford - still she's gone and thats what is important
thinkaboutit said on 2010-07-31 @ 17:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
Brilliant! "The Tribe Has Spoken" in the game of "Survival NZ"- the truth hurts - Carter has been ousted for being a real threat by a Labour Party full of "Yes Men" and gutless sheep! Carter was more spot on than he thought though- this is hardly a Party for the future - time for a real radical change! Carter needs to keep up his radical thinking if he is genuinely concerned about this country - like supporting a real threat to National like Winston Peters win his electorate!
thinkaboutit said on 2010-07-31 @ 10:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
After 50 odd years of observing (and being on the receiving end) of NZ dysfunctional politics and witnessing this country degenerate from "Gods Own" to a third world look alike Ive come to the conclusion that there is only one potential leader with the mana, experience and genuine and balanced concern for this country and its people and its way of life that has any chance of salvaging what we once all enjoyed - its time to make your move Winston!
santa0007 said on 2010-07-31 @ 08:56 NZDT: Report abusive post
T e Atatu....Peninsula,soory about title. Well placed now to make a stand for themselves,backing Carter says "we are here", he is the olny person to dedicate himself to his clients,he speaks the truth. Labour as a party has done nothing for us on the dole 7 nothing for us farmers & nothing for the poor.
scottynz said on 2010-07-30 @ 14:44 NZDT: Report abusive post
Chris Carter has one thing right. Goff has no chance in the next election. He has less charisma than Gordon Brown or Bill English. Might be a nice guy or competent, but he has less hope than an ice ball in hades.