MP Chris Carter has been suspended from the Labour Party after admitting to sending an anonymous letter claiming there is a plot to overthrow leader Phil Goff.
"His actions were stupid and disloyal," Labour leader Phil Goff told a press conference this afternoon.
"There are no more chances. His future in the Labour Party is at an end."
Mr Goff said he recognised Mr Carter's handwriting on the envelope of the anonymous letter.
For goodness sake; Chris Carter couldn't even execute a coup properly. More on this soon!
UPDATE: Here's the letter, hand-delivered in an Air-Mail envelope; Koru Club Carter troughs it up right to the bitter end! And Stuff has more from Phil Goff:
Labour bosses would meet on Saturday week and decide his future and they were expected to expell him.
''I would expect nominations to be reopened for Te Atatu,'' Mr Goff said.
Mr Carter is the only nomination for the west Auckland seat, which he holds with a 5298 vote majority.
There's also more background to the supposed "coup" (our emphasis added):
It is understood CCTV inside Parliament caught pictures of the person putting the letters into the mail system.
It claimed union-aligned MPs would challenge Mr Goff at next week's caucus meeting over his position on the Government's policy of allowing a fourth week of annual leave to be cashed in if employers and employees agreed.
It also claimed finance spokesman David Cunliffe was expected to challenge Mr Goff and deputy Annette King before the next election.
This really puts the cat amongst the pigeons in Labour's ranks. And you have to wonder - were instructions being sent from afar? Whatever, Carter has made an absolute meal of it all.
Tonight, Labour is clearly a party divided. Will Cunliffe's leadership ambitions be snuffed out? Has Phil Goff bought himself a fight which will ultimately see him rolled? What will Chris Carter's response be? So many questions ...
UPDATE II: Just heard Carter interviewed on 3News via RadioLive (still at work dammit!) - Carter is unrepentant, and claims that he is doing this because Labour cannot win the election next year led by Phil Goff. We're looking forward to getting home and watching One News on MySky.
11 comments:
Don't we all feel sorry for Carter, the aging homosexual?
Thank the Maker!, I thought you meant Daniel for a second.
How could someone stupid enough to have hand written the address on the envelope have been a cabinet minister?
Indeed Ele. And did you notice he used an airmail envelope for a hand delivery? Koru Club right to the end!
Bent poilticians eh!
http://robertguyton.blogspot.com/2010/07/telling-truth-are-politicians-including.html
Stick to the subject please Robert - which is Chris Carter's suspension from the Labour Party, and nothing to do with John Key and National.
I'd hate to have to classify you as a leftie troll!!
Okay Invent.
Carter has acted very stupidly, it seems!
I'm not so sure about that Robert. I've just heard him interviewed on 3News via Radiolive (great for when you're still at work and want the news!), and Carter has said he wrote the letter because he doesn't believe that Labour can win the 2011 election with Goff at the helm. Perhaps Carter has been chosen to "take on for the team" to get a leadership challenge onto the agenda.
Okay Invent.
Carter has acted very cleverly, it seems!
Crikey,
Out of the office, in court and incommunicado for three days and all sorts of fun happens.
Pull up the couch, get the chips beer & dip, and watch the fun.
Interesting that over at the Standard this story carries the headline "Just Plain Stupidity" next to a photograph of Phil Goff.
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