Greens still ‘first cab off the rank’ in any coalition talks, Ardern says

The Greens would still be the first party Labour leader Jacinda Ardern would tap to form a coalition if it has the numbers come September 23.

Speaking to media this morning, Ms Ardern was grilled about Labour’s relationship with the Green Party and the state of its memorandum of understanding (MoU).

Green MPs Kennedy Graham and David Clendon have withdrawn from the party caucus following their decision yesterday to withdraw from the Party’s 2017 election list because they would not stand while Metiria Turei remained as co-leader.

“That decision was supported by the other 12 Green Party MPs,” co-leader James Shaw said.

Ms Turei earlier reiterated her previous statement that she will not condemn people who lie to WINZ, which led to Mr Graham and Mr Clendon abandoning the party list. 

Ms Ardern was at pains to point out that the Greens and Labour were not in fact “joined at the hip” by the MoU.

“The MoU tells voters what they can expect after the election," she says.

“It’s a transparent way of demonstrating the kind of government we would form if voters do deliver that.”

She says she stands by the MoU and confirmed the Greens would still be the first party she would look to form a coalition with after the election.

In March, former Labour leader Andrew Little said the Greens would be the “first cab off the rank” in any post-election talks.

“After September 23 and if the numbers go our way and I am in the privileged position of putting together a government, they are the first phone call I will make. No question about that.”

But Ms Ardern left the door open for negotiations with other parties as well.

“If we’re in a position to be making phone calls with other coalition parties, that’s a pretty possible place to be in.”

She would not say which other parties she was referring to, although clearly NZ First is in the frame.

Ms Ardern was asked repeatedly if she thought Ms Turei should resign and she repeatedly said it was not an issue for her or the Labour Party.

“Our MoU is simply a message to voters that if they vote for our parties and were in a position to form a government then we will.

“Beyond that, these issues are for the Greens.”

This morning on his way to National’s caucus meeting, Prime Minister Bill English said the implications of the rift in the Green Party would damage both Labour and the Greens as they are, essentially “joined at the hip.”

But he would not go as far as calling for Ms Turei’s resignation, saying it was a matter “for the Greens and for the Labour leadership.”

He did say, however, if someone in National’s caucus were in the same situation as Ms Turei, that person would most likely no longer have a place within the National’s caucus.

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