It could take the Labour Party two months to close down the Chris Carter crisis now the dissident MP has asked for extended leave from Parliament.Mr Carter was thrown out of Labour's caucus last Thursday within hours of being identified as the author of a
It could take the Labour Party two months to close down the Chris Carter crisis now the dissident MP has asked for extended leave from Parliament.
Mr Carter was thrown out of Labour's caucus last Thursday within hours of being identified as the author of an anonymous letter to the media saying the party couldn't win next year's election with Phil Goff as leader.
Since then, senior Labour MPs have questioned his state of mind and yesterday party president Andrew Little said Mr Carter was "unwell" and wanted two months off.
"The party is pleased that he is getting the help he needs," Mr Little said.
Labour whips can grant leave up to 14 sitting days, just over four weeks, and Speaker Lockwood Smith can grant more than that.
They are expected to agree to Mr Carter's request and that means Labour's council might not be able to decide what to do about Mr Carter until he comes back.
It is meeting on Saturday to discuss whether he should be expelled but it can't reach any conclusions until the MP takes up the right to explain his actions.
"Our rules state that Chris Carter needs the opportunity to be heard before any disciplinary action is taken," Mr Little said.
"He will not be able to do that on Saturday because he is unwell."
Mr Goff has said he expects Mr Carter to be expelled, which would turn him into an independent MP, and wanted it over as quickly as possible to end media speculation and any drawn-out debate over the leadership issue.
Mr Carter appears to have been acting alone, because no other caucus member has come out in support of his belief that Mr Goff must be replaced to give Labour a chance of winning.
The government, meanwhile, is twisting the knife.
"I don't think he's unwell ... I think he's saying what he thinks is appealing to the majority of the caucus," Prime Minister John Key said yesterday.
"It might be a ham-fisted way of going about it, but I think there is widespread concern in that caucus."
