Hamilton West MP Gaurav Sharma, who was removed from Labour’s caucus in August for breaching confidentiality and losing his colleagues’ trust, has resigned.<\/p>\n
He says he has been informed the Labour Party and the prime minister plan to use the waka-jumping legislation to remove him from Parliament six months before the next election, and decided to resign as an MP to ensure a by-election.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, the prime minister rejected that.<\/p>\n
Sharma announced the news of his resignation in a social media post this afternoon.<\/p>\n
“I have sincere concerns that this underhanded move will mean people of Hamilton West will have no voice in Parliament for 6 months preceding the next General Election,” he said.<\/p>\n
In a statement as Labour’s leader, Jacinda Ardern said the party’s position on Sharma and the waka jumping provisions had not changed.<\/p>\n
“We have not, and are not, considering invoking the waka jumping provisions, nor do I know the basis of Gaurav Sharma’s speculation,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Gaurav may wish to reconsider his decision given he is unnecessarily costing the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of dollars to trigger a byelection he then intends to stand in.<\/p>\n
“We consider it unnecessary and wasteful given the General Election is scheduled for 2023.”<\/p>\n
More to come… Source [RNZ]<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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