Labour Chairman Quits In Protest (Press, 19 June 1980)
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Summary: Labour Chairman Quits In Protest (Press, 19 June 1980)
On 19 June 1980, tensions within the Labour Party surfaced as Jack Hughes, chairman of the Balmoral branch in the Eden electorate, announced his resignation. His decision was prompted by the selection of Dr Ian Scott, a gay rights activist and medical school lecturer, as the Labour candidate for the upcoming General Election. Dr Scott, who is noted for his previous involvement as an executive member of the National Gay Rights Coalition, was chosen as the party's representative last month. Hughes expressed concerns that Dr Scott’s nomination could alienate some of the party's traditional supporters. He stated that he did not believe Dr Scott was "electable," a sentiment he indicated was shared by other members within the party. Despite expressing respect for Dr Scott, whom he described as "open and honest" and possessing significant courage, Hughes maintained his stance on the potential risks associated with the candidate's sexual orientation. Although resigning from his leadership position, Hughes clarified that he would remain a member of the party and planned to attend next year’s annual conference. He aimed to advocate for changes in the party’s candidate selection procedures to prevent similar issues in the future. In a related development, another resignation occurred within the party. George Madden, the former chairman of the Onehunga Labour electorate committee, resigned last week. His resignation was in protest against what he termed the undue influence of party head office in the candidacy of F. M. Gerbic for the Onehunga by-election. During a committee meeting, Madden's resignation letter was initially met with a motion to accept it "with regret," but an amendment was successful in removing the expression, indicating a lack of sympathy from the committee towards Madden's protest. These events highlight a growing discord within the Labour Party regarding candidate selections and the impact of social issues on electoral viability.
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