-
Watch Video
-
Related
Labour leader Phil Goff has called axed MP Chris Carter a liar as the slanging match between the pair heats up.
The latest allegation came as the ditched MP revealed he had a list of 17 MPs who wanted Goff to step down as leader.
The claim was part of Carter's defence as he fought to keep his party membership at a disciplinary meeting last night.
Goff has accused Carter of lying and had called on him to stump up with the facts.
"Let him name names, that's an open challenge to him. That is simply not true, it is a further example of his imagination," he said.
But Carter maintains that he is not the only one that wants Goff gone.
Carter told ONE News' Close Up that MP's are always looking for ways to break a dead lock in politics.
"When a party is stuck in the polls and Labour has been stuck in the polls now for almost two years, people are going to start questioning whether we have the right leader," he said.
Carter is yet to reveal exactly who is on the list of 17, but has given dates and numbers.
"On July 28 three Labour MPs sat in my parliamentary office until 10.00pm discussing when the leadership coup should occur," he said.
Carter was thrown out of the party following a mammoth meeting of its national council but remains an independent MP.
It emerged this afternoon that in a submission to last night's hearing, Carter is understood to have alleged: "I can name 17 current MPs that have discussed with me personally their concerns about the current party leadership and the need to change the leader."
Carter told ONE News today that Labour MPs were openly discussing the leadership.
He said: "Of course they are questioning the leadership. Why wouldn't they? It would happen in any political party, that's what happens in politics."
Asked if the council challenged the part of his evidence about
coup plotting when he gave it, he said: "No, they did not because
they knew I could give them names, places and dates."
Earlier today, Carter indicated he may abandon plans to remain in
parliament as an independent MP until the next election, forcing a
by-election in his West Auckland seat of Te Atatu.
"You've got to ask yourself whether or not you want that stress. At the moment my intention is to remain and I will evaluate that after Christmas," he said.
It took around six hours for Labour's national council to reach the decision to expel the Te Atatu MP for undermining Goff by writing an anonymous letter to the media in July questioning his leadership.
Carter's letter also highlighted a plan to oust Goff, saying he believed he could not win the next election.
"My heart, philosophy and beliefs are all with Labour, but I dispute Goff's leadership," he told Close Up.
The maverick MP lashed out at his treatment this morning.
"I think the process has been petty and vindictive," Carter told ONE News.
"Look, this whole issue is about trying to make Phil Goff look tough. Leadership is about compassion, about understanding that people do stupid things when they're stressed.
"I still believe in Labour. I still want Labour to win. I just think that the current leadership have been petty, spiteful and vindictive to try to make themselves look strong. Leadership is also about loyalty."
Carter said he is shocked about the expulsion because he believes it's an overreaction.
"Questioning the leader is something that happens in politics quite often, not just in Labour but in National."
However, he has indicated it is unlikely he will appeal the council's decision because of the cost and time it would take.
