Former Act MP David Garrett resigned from Parliament yesterday as Labour's Chris Carter returned to face an uncertain future.Mr Garrett, disgraced by his own admission that he used a dead infant's identity to get a false passport 26 years ago, resigned fr
Former Act MP David Garrett resigned from Parliament yesterday as Labour's Chris Carter returned to face an uncertain future.
Mr Garrett, disgraced by his own admission that he used a dead infant's identity to get a false passport 26 years ago, resigned from Act last week and ended his political career by sending a letter to Speaker Lockwood Smith saying he was quitting Parliament as well, effective midnight.
"As a result of my foolish Actions 26 years ago I now have other battles to face," Act's former law and order spokesman said.
Mr Carter came back from two months stress leave, taken after he was expelled from Labour's caucus for trying to discredit party leader Phil Goff.
Mr Carter sent an anonymous letter to the media claiming there was going to be a leadership coup because Labour couldn't win the next election under Mr Goff.
It didn't take Mr Goff long to figure out who wrote the letter and he isn't going to forgive and forget.
"It was deceitful, it was treacherous, it was dishonest and it was utterly unacceptable to every member of the Labour caucus," Mr Goff told NZPA.
Mr Carter had avoided a showdown with Labour's council by being away sick, but now he is back Mr Goff and party president Andrew Little expect him to front up at a meeting which will decide whether he should be expelled from the party.
Mr Carter spent most of yesterday holed up in his office but issued a statement saying he still considered himself to be a Labour MP.
Speaker Smith considers otherwise and has told Parliament Mr Carter is an independent MP. He has given Mr Carter an office on a different floor from the rest of the Labour caucus.
Prime Minister John Key found the situation amusing and suggested Mr Carter might end up in Act's vacant slot.
The slot won't be vacant for long because Dunedin lawyer Hilary Calvert is lined up to replace Mr Garrett and will hold a press conference in Auckland today with Act's leader Rodney Hide.
Ms Calvert will be sworn in when Parliament sits again on October 12.
