Welcome back Damien

The Chief Electoral Officer proclaims:

The Chief Electoral Officer has declared Damien Peter O’Connor from Westport to be elected to Parliament from the New Zealand Labour Party list.

Damien is liked by most people in Parliament, regardless of party. I doubt he will win back West Coast-Tasman in 2011, and it will be interesting to see how he is placed on the 2011 list.

At the moment in the House, Labour is reduced from 43 seats to just 41 seats. O’Connor will bring them back to 42 when he is sworn in on Tuesday.