Labour Party MP David Shearer has come out swinging against former leader David Cunliffe, saying he will end up undermining whoever takes over the leadership.
Shearer has confirmed he will not be seeking the leadership of the party but is disappointed that Cunliffe withdrew from the contest. With nominations closing later today, the declared contenders are Andrew Little, David Parker and Grant Robertson.
When Cunliffe pulled out of the leadership race yesterday and said he would support whoever won the contest - although he immediately endorsed Little.
David Cunliffe is set to pull out of Labour's leadership contest, will back Andrew Little. http://t.co/p5Y8pVZEFR pic.twitter.com/kbAHLgbA7V
— nzherald (@nzherald) October 12, 2014
Shearer told Radio New Zealand he would have liked Cunliffe to stand as if he did not win, it might have curbed him - and particularly his supporters - from undermining whoever became the leader. “There are people who David surrounded himself with, some of whom are working in his former office, who actively undermined me [as leader] and undermined [former leader] Phil Goff.”
But Little believed Cunliffe had made the right choice in deciding not to stand. “I think it's good for the party and it's good for David. While I welcome any support I can get, I don't underestimate the effort I have to go to to win the confidence of the party, the affiliates and indeed the caucus if I am to win this contest.”
