Labour MP Damien O'Connor has made a bitter swipe at his own party's new list, saying it was drawn up by ''self-serving unionists and a gaggle of gays''. O'Connor has decided not to go on the list, but to instead attempt to win the seat held by National's Chris Auchinvole. ''Frankly, I didn't trust the system to give a straight-shooter a fair deal ... It is dominated by self-serving unionists and a gaggle of gays," O'Connor said. There are four openly-gay MPs in Labour's top 40 on the list heading into the election; Maryan Street, Charles Chauvel, Grant Robertson and Jordan Carter. Labour president Moira Coatsworth has told the New Zealand Herald O'Connor's claims were "unfair and incorrect". O' Connor is one of only three sitting Labour MPs who voted against the civil union legislation.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 11th April 2011 - 10:19am