Labour in limbo as Carter ponders

Chris Carter. Photo / Dean Purcell

Chris Carter remains in the dog box, but the Labour Party is stuck in limbo as it waits for him to decide whether he will return to Parliament.

Mr Carter is on two months leave from Parliament after being exposed as the writer of an anonymous letter sent to media on July 29 which suggested a coup by Labour MPs who believed the party could not win next year's election with Phil Goff as leader.

Mr Goff said yesterday that he had not had any recent contact with Mr Carter. "I'm not aware of any decision that he's made. As far as I'm concerned he's told the Speaker that he's off work unwell and not in a position to make those decisions [about returning]."

Asked if the party was ready for a byelection in Te Atatu should Mr Carter decide to leave Parliament, Mr Goff said it was "always prepared".

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.

- NZPA