Chris Carter wants Labour's council to let him stay in the party but he is still sniping at leader Phil Goff.Mr Carter yesterday withdrew his nomination for the Te Atatu seat he holds, which means he has no chance of staying in Parliament after next year'
Chris Carter wants Labour's council to let him stay in the party but he is still sniping at leader Phil Goff.
Mr Carter yesterday withdrew his nomination for the Te Atatu seat he holds, which means he has no chance of staying in Parliament after next year's election.
"In good conscience I cannot campaign on behalf of a leader I have criticised," he said.
"It would not be fair to him or ethical of me."
The MP was expelled from Labour's caucus after sending an anonymous letter to the media on July 29 which said a coup was planned against Mr Goff because he couldn't win the next election.
He was quickly uncovered as its author and now has to face the party's national council on Monday, when it will decide whether to suspend or expel him.
Mr Carter explained to NZPA why he decided to withdraw his nomination, saying he had proposed a reconciliation through a joint press conference with Mr Goff in the same way Act leader Rodney Hide and his former deputy Heather Roy presented a united front after she was demoted.
"He hung me out to dry... he wouldn't do that," Mr Carter said.
"How would he manage to negotiate with coalition partners if he was prime minister?"
Mr Carter said he didn't accept any blame for creating a major media distraction which made it difficult for Labour to get its policy messages across.
"I think the leadership has been responsible for not getting our message out because they haven't been decisive enough in defining the difference (between Labour and National)," he said.
Mr Carter said Labour attitudes to the new law that allows workers to cash in a week's leave, and the rise in GST, had been weak.
Mr Goff said Mr Carter's decision to leave Parliament was the only realistic one he could have made.
"We have moved on, I'm focusing on real issues and not on Chris Carter," he said.
"I've dealt with him and his behaviour, he is out of caucus and now it only remains for the council to consider his membership."
Sign up to get the latest stories and insights delivered to your inbox – free, every day.
