Labour president dismisses Carter's claims over Goff

Labour Party president Andrew Little (L) says Phil Goff can still win the next election. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Labour Party president Andrew Little says four weeks annual leave is a core Labour policy and is incontestable.

Te Atatu MP Chris Carter claimed in his "anonymous" letter to media this week that Labour Leader Phil Goff "in an unguarded media moment ... bucked the caucus and CTU position that the 4th week was not tradable for cash and essentially supported (Prime Minister John) Key's position."

Mr Carter, who was expelled from the party's caucus on Thursday and faces expulsion from the party next Saturday, was referring to comments Mr Goff made on a Radio Sport farming show that he was relaxed about workers cashing in their fourth week's leave.

Today, speaking on TV3's The Nation, Mr Little said there was no question that "when Labour is returned to government next year the minimum annual leave entitlement will be four weeks".

"There will be no tradability of the fourth week of annual leave," he said.

Mr Little dismissed Mr Carter's claims that Mr Goff could not win the next election, but he did not deny other claims made in the letter.

He said it had "become evident" in the past few days that MP George Hawkins could be challenged for the Manurewa nomination.

And he said there were other incumbents who might also face challenges.

Responding to Mr Carter's claim that the person challenging Mr Hawkins was a staff member from the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union that Mr Little heads, he said: "They may be EPMU members".

He said the union had yet to approve any of its staff standing against Mr Hawkins - however they had time to do that since nominations do not close till September 1.

Mr Little said the party now had a range of options when it came to dealing with Mr Carter at its council meeting next weekend.

Mr Goff had asked that he be expelled from the party.

Mr Little agreed that "the case is pretty much there".

But he said Mr Carter was entitled to be heard and the New Zealand Council had a range of options, "the worst of which is expulsion."

Labour leaders have been questioning Mr Carter's state of mind as he accused them of trying to cover up his message that Mr Goff had to go if the party wanted to win the next election.

No evidence of caucus discontent has emerged and yesterday Mr Goff, senior MP Trevor Mallard and Mr Little suggested Mr Carter was suffering from stress over an unauthorised trip to China which was about to bring down disciplinary action.

Mr Carter said it was a ploy and he had seen through it.

"I see the latest attempt to deflect my message that Phil has to go involves spinning a story that my alleged concerns were raised to mask details of a recent trip to China," he said.

"I have no concerns over that trip."

Mr Carter broke the rules by not seeking permission for the trip, and he didn't tell party whips he was going to be out the country.

He told NZPA the Chinese government paid for the visit so he could attend a conference, and no taxpayer money was involved.

- NZPA