30 July 2002

Labour’s Infighting Already Started

New Zealand First Leader and MP for Tauranga, Rt Hon Winston Peters, has revealed that there is already a deep division among Labour MPs over the pending appointment of Jim Anderton as a Cabinet Minister.

Mr Peters says, that “the Maori MPs are unhappy that Helen Clark has offered a Cabinet post to Jim Anderton before she has even dealt with her own Caucus”.

He says, “all the Labour Maori MPs have agreed to demand three Cabinet posts before anything is given to Mr Andertons party, and that seems appropriate given the huge percentage vote for party and Maori electorate seats delivered by her own Maori members against Jim Andertons greatly reduced majority in Wigram and his paltry party support of just 1.8%”.

“ Where does Helen Clark’s loyalty lie or is it Labour’s intention, as in the past, to use Labour’s Maori members simply to gain votes during an election, only to be ignored and treated as mere spectators as the political favours are dished out to old mates”, concluded Mr Peters.

ENDS

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