Tougher line on political defectors

By AUDREY YOUNG

MPs will be able to force rebel colleagues out of Parliament to be replaced or face byelections under tougher changes being drafted to the anti-defection bill.

Parliament's Speaker will have the right to deem an electorate MP "resigned" on receiving a letter from a party leader that his or her caucus no longer regards the MP as a member of the party.

The wayward MP will not have to resign from the party or Parliament for him or her to be deemed "resigned."

In the case of a list MP, he or she will be replaced by the next person on the party list. In the case of an electorate MP, a byelection will be held.

The Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill is designed to stop any party-hopping.

It is largely a product of the last parliamentary term, which saw a steady stream of party defectors.

The Alliance lost Alamein Kopu - who became an Independent MP and supported the Government - and Frank Grover.

New Zealand First lost Neil Kirton, Deborah Morris, Tau Henare, Tuariki Delamere, Rana Waitai, Tukoroirangi Morgan, Peter McCardle, Jack Elder and the Rev Ann Batten.

Labour and the Alliance are having the tougher amendment drafted to get NZ First support.

NZ First sees the present bill, which deals only with MPs who choose to leave their party, as too weak.

National, Act and the Greens oppose the legislation.

They say that the remedy for an untrustworthy MP is already in the hands of voters once every three years.

None of last term's party-hoppers was re-elected.