Goff doesn't hold back

Labour leader Phil Goff. Photo / Natalie Slade

"Bullshit," said Labour leader Phil Goff.

It was a deliberate, planned and thoughtful commentary on questions about the strength of his leadership, and he made it on the same day another nail went in Labour MP Chris Carter's political coffin.

Goff dropped the BS-bomb after a Labour Party council meeting in Wellington yesterday to discuss the next step in sacking Carter following a botched sabotage attempt on his leadership.

Reporters asked whether the time taken to get rid of Carter reflected on Goff's leadership. He replied: "That's bullshit. Frankly, that's just nonsense."

Last night, Goff said his profanity was deliberate.

"I said it quite deliberately. It was bullshit. There are rules and we have to follow due process.

"The idea that the delay somehow reflects on my leadership is ridiculous I will be leading Labour through the next election."

Goff said the meeting resolved a disciplinary case against Carter and also re-opened nominations for the MP's Te Atatu electorate - effectively advertising the disgraced MP's job.

Goff said that the party would write to speaker Lockwood Smith stating that Carter would effectively be an independent MP from tomorrow.

The party planned to tell the speaker it would "sever our parliamentary ties" with Carter.

"The critical thing is he is out of caucus," said Goff, adding Carter had effectively ended his own career.

"It is sad to see him end it in this fashion."

Labour Party president Andrew Little said two lawyers represented Carter at the meeting.

He said the party had a process to work through "but we don't want this dragging out a year and a day".

Carter did not return calls from the Herald on Sunday yesterday.

Goff and Carter could be at the same event today when Labour politicians gather at the 100th birthday celebrations of former speaker Jonathan Hunt's mother. Carter was expected to attend with former Prime Minster Helen Clark.