August 8, 2010 11:00am by David Farrar

Labour’s decisions on Carter

Labour’s nominations for the Te Atatu seat have been reopened in the wake of disciplinary action against sitting MP Chris Carter.

Hmmn. So they have re-opened nominations before they have heard any defence from Chris Carter. If Carter does decide to go to court that could be evidence of bad faith.

The New Zealand Council of the Labour Party, meeting in Wellington this morning, has decided Mr Carter has a case to answer under the party’s disciplinary rules.

Mr Carter was not at the meeting but two of his lawyers, Claudia Elliot and Simon Mitchell, were in attendance.

Is that the Simon Mitchell who burns paintings for Helen Clark? How helpful of him.

In the meantime, Labour leader Phil Goff will write to Parliament’s Speaker Lockwood Smith on Monday, formally severing parliamentary ties with Mr Carter. …

The effect of becoming an independent means that he will no longer be included in funding formulas for Labour and will attract his own parliamentary funding as a sole MP.

Now kudos to Labour for that. By saying they will no longer accept funding for him, they are truly excluding him from Caucus. This really does indicate no way back for Carter.

Also related to Carter, in Sunday News Willie Jackson calls for John Tamihere to be offered the Te Atatu nomination for Labour. That would really stir things up!