Labour is not expecting Chris Carter to quit Parliament and force a by-election in Te Atatu.Amid speculation that Mr said he did not believe that was the case and the party was not expecting a by-election.Mr Carter is on two months' leave from Parliament
Labour is not expecting Chris Carter to quit Parliament and force a by-election in Te Atatu.
Amid speculation that Mr said he did not believe that was the case and the party was not expecting a by-election.
Mr Carter is on two months' leave from Parliament after being outed as the writer of an anonymous letter sent to media on July 29 which said a coup was planned by Labour MPs who believed the party could not win next year's election with Phil Goff as leader.
Mr Carter was suspended from caucus -- the parliamentary side of the party and remains in Parliament as an independent.
He is still a member of the Labour Party, which cannot deal with him until he fronts up at a council meeting.
Mr Goff said yesterday he had not had any recent contact with Mr Carter.
He said proceedings by the party's national council into Mr Carter's conduct had stalled until the absent MP was well enough to appear.
"They're waiting for an approach from Chris Carter at the point that he's well enough to make submissions to them."
Asked if the party was ready for a by-election in Te Atatu should Mr Carter decide to leave Parliament, Mr Goff said it was "always prepared."
