Andrew Little, boss of the Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) may yet stand for Labour in next year's election. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) boss Andrew Little is reconsidering standing for Labour in the 2008 election.
In May the high-profile union leader said he was exiting the race for a Labour seat in Wellington in 2008 due to his desire to bed in reforms at the
union - New Zealand's largest. He said he would probably seek to stand in 20011.
But Mr Little today said he had been asked to reconsider his decision and was doing so in light of the large clean out of Labour's ranks in recent weeks.
"The one thing that has changed is the size of the change in the lineup of the Labour caucus," he told NZPA.
"The 2008 intake is going to be a sizeable intake and it's probably better to be part of that change than wait to 2011."
Labour Party president Mike Williams was among about "half a dozen" people who had asked him to reconsider in the past month.
Mr Little said he would be take several weeks to make his decision.
That probably meant he was more likely to stand on Labour's list than in a seat.
Labour's electorate nominations close at the end of next week.
The EPMU is affiliated to the Labour Party.
Last week its president Don Pryde said he would challenge David Benson-Pope for the right to stand for Labour in Dunedin South.
Meanwhile, it was reported today that unsuccessful Dunedin mayoralty candidate Olivier Lequeux had also put his name forward for the right to stand for Labour in Dunedin South.
The 40-year-old French-born restaurateur's bid for the city's mayoralty last month saw him receive 1962 votes, leaving him fifth of 10 candidates.
Mr Lequeux told the Otago Daily Times he had obtained the necessary signatures of six Labour Party members, but he had been a member for less than the year usually required for a candidate.
Labour Party president Mike Williams said it was possible for that requirement to be waived.
- NZPA
