No plans to change deputy: Little

Labour leader Andrew Little is in no hurry to replace Jacinda Ardern as deputy. Photo: file
Labour leader Andrew Little is in no hurry to replace Jacinda Ardern as deputy. Photo: file

Labour leader Andrew Little has made his strongest comments on speculation Jacinda Ardern could be considered for the deputy leader role, saying ‘‘don’t expect any change’’.

Ms Ardern’s strong showing in the Mt Albert by-election,  she recorded 77% of the vote, has increased speculation  she could be elevated to the deputy position ahead of the September 23 general election.

Mr Little was asked about that prospect at Ms Ardern’s victory party on Saturday night and said there was ‘‘no vacancy’’ and he was not ‘‘planning any changes’’.

Yesterday, he repeated that statement, and added, ‘‘I’m not thinking about it. Don’t expect any change.’’

Deputy leader Annette King said no Labour MPs had suggested a change could be warranted, or talked to her about standing aside.

‘‘Nothing has changed,’’ she said yesterday, adding that the speculation was media-driven and hurtful.

‘‘Nobody has phoned me up and said things have changed.’’

Last week, she said  the caucus had no reason to contemplate a change in deputy.

Labour and the Greens were the only parliamentary parties contesting the by-election.

Ms Ardern, previously a list MP, won 10,000 votes and the Green Party’s Julie Anne Genter 1489.

Ms Ardern’s majority was 8511.

In third place with 600 votes was Geoff Simmons, candidate for Gareth Morgan’s new Opportunities Party, which will be pleased with his showing.

There were 13 candidates and most of the rest, either independents or representatives of small parties, did not make three figures.

The turnout, as expected, was very poor. There are just over 45,000 voters registered in Mt Albert and only 12,971 went to the ballot boxes.

Ms Ardern completed her first duty as Mt Albert MP-elect yesterday afternoon, attending a family day at the Pt Chevalier Lions Club.

‘‘It is a great feeling,’’ she said.

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