Fri 25 Mar 2011 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
6PM: Labour Leader Phil Goff says his decision to accept Darren Hughes' resignation should not be seen as any indication he believes the MP has done wrong. "He'll be gutted by the loss of a job he's wanted to do all his life. This is not necessarily the end for Mr Hughes," he has told media in Auckland tonight. "Events of the past few days have made it increasingly clear to Darren that the controversy around the allegations made against him has made it impossible to carry out his duties. "In reaching that decision he is adamant that he has committed no offence. "He needs to focus on clearing his name. I agree this is the right decision." Goff has asked the media not to carry out their own investigations into the allegations, saying, "It is important that the police are able to conclude their investigation without interference." During his years in the public eye Hughes has made no reference to his actual sexuality. Hughes is a list MP so his resignation opens a place in Parliament. Judith Tizard is next on the list, followed by Mark Burton. But a senior Labour Party source is claiming that the next five people on Labour's list, including Tizard, "will not be on the list" for the general election and therefore may not want to disrupt their lives to sit in the house for such a short time.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 25th March 2011 - 5:57pm