Dover upset with Labour welcoming a waka jumper
One News reports:
Former Alliance MP Willie Jackson is rumoured to be in line for a high spot on Andrew Little’s list.
He was expected to run for the Maori Party, but at Waitangi on Sunday it’s anticipated he’ll announce he is taking up Labour’s offer.
That hasn’t impressed Dover Samuels.
“I thought the only waka jumper in the parliament was going to be Tau Henare but looks like Willie has superseded that,” he said.
While the list won’t be released for several months, feathers are already ruffled, as a high list place would mean he leap-frogs existing Labour Party members, and perhaps even current MPs.
“It flies in the face of Labour Party loyalty, quite frankly if it was to happen the president can expect my resignation as a life member,” Mr Samuels said.
Quite a few in Labour are upset because to guarantee Jackson a winnable list place means ignoring the rules on gender equality and/or ranking him higher than current MPs.
What this is really about is Little trying to get a majority in caucus post-election to protect him from a leadership challenge.
For those wondering Willie’s party affiliations have been:
- Mana Motuhake
- Alliance
- Maori Party
- Labour