25 Sep 2014

Pressure mounting on Cunliffe

8:57 pm on 25 September 2014

Pressure is mounting on Labour Party leader David Cunliffe to resign and not contest the leadership again.

David Cunliffe said he was not going to resign.

David Cunliffe said he was not going to resign. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Labour MPs met on Tuesday for a marathon seven-hour caucus after the party's worst election result in more than 90 years.

Mr Cunliffe has released a statement saying he is on a short break at home with his family and that he is continuing to take soundings from associates and colleagues.

Many Labour MPs are also taking a break but Radio New Zealand understands there is manoeuvring behind the scenes to get a clean change of leadership.

Mr Cunliffe is under pressure to stand down and allow a handover to a new leadership team, which would avoid a prolonged leadership contest.

Labour's national council will this weekend decide on the terms of reference for an inquiry into its election result, and Labour MPs will meet again on Tuesday.

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