National and Act members called on West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor to resign from the Labour Party in a parliamentary debate last night on legislation which cancels the West Coast Accord.

National's Environment spokesperson Richard Worth said that Mr O'Connor has completely ignored his own people. "Hundreds of good quality submissions have been totally overlooked as the Government uses its numbers in Parliament to break a legally binding agreement.

"The Government has destroyed the economic fabric of the West Coast. That can never be justified. It is a tragedy that young men and women growing up on the Coast will have no future and no choice but to leave and search for jobs in another area. The Government's payment to the Coast will not create one sustainable job.

"Mr O'Connor's feeble attempt to justify the Government's action was a joke. He has failed to persuade his Labour colleagues on a fundamental issue for the Coast and should now do the honourable thing and severe his contacts with Labour.

"This is Mr O'Connor's last hope. National and Act would congratulate Mr O'Connor should he find the courage of his convictions and he would be endorsed by the people of the West Coast as their MP for life.

"Mr O'Connor's token vote in Parliament when it has no effect on the outcome of the legislation is just not credible," Mr Worth said.

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