David Cunliffe
Labour Leader
13 June 2014
Epsom byelection not in the public interest
The Labour Party will not force a byelection in the Epsom electorate because it is not in the public interest, Labour
Leader David Cunliffe says.
“A byelection so close to the general election would also be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“I have written to the Prime Minister to inform him that Labour will support any motion to ensure there is no byelection
in the electorate.
“Labour would like to mark John Banks’ last day as an MP by calling on John Key to support our Member’s Bill to scrap
the coat-tailing provision.
“ACT’s final foray into Parliament was an abject failure. The deal done by John Key and John Banks in a bid to bring Don
Brash back into Parliament backfired spectacularly.
“John Banks has been nothing but an embarrassment for National this Parliamentary term.
“National needs to end the manipulation of the electoral system in Epsom –voters there have had enough.
“ACT’s Epsom candidate David Seymour continues to humiliate himself in a vain attempt to hide the fact his party is
desperate for a nod from the Prime Minister.
“Meanwhile National’s Epsom candidate Paul Goldsmith is missing in action and has been replaced in media interviews by a
bag of flour.
“It is time to end these ridiculous shenanigans. A Labour government will do just that,” David Cunliffe says.
ENDS