Dyson retires

Stuff reports:

Christchurch MP Ruth Dyson is calling it quits after 27 years in Parliament.
Dyson announced in an email on Sunday she had decided to not seek re-election as the Labour candidate for Port Hills in 2020.
“After what would then be 27 years in Parliament, I have decided to pursue other challenges in my life (but I haven’t yet determined what they will be).”

Dyson will be a big loss to Labour. She is one of their most politically competent MPs. Her politics aren’t mine, but in my dealings with her I’ve found her very professional and effective.

She is a popular local MP. The ratio of her electorate vote to party vote was 137% meaning for every 100 votes Labour got, she got 137. That is the third highest for ratio for a Labour MPm after Ardern and Nash.

Port Hills has a majority of 7,916 which is generally regarded as safe. But National got around 500 more party votes. If Labour doesn’t select a strong candidate, the seat could be competitive.