Cunliffe officially joins Robertson, Jones in Labour leadership fight
PLUS: 'Flag waving' Shane Jones joins Robertson in fight for Labour leadership.
UPDATE: As expected, New Lynn MP David Cunliffe used a 2.30pm press conference to formally enter the Labour leadership contest.
The cut-off for nominations is 10pm tonight.
So far, Mr Cunliffe, Grant Robertson and Shane Jones have officially entered the face.
The new Labour leader will be named on September 15.
A new, "full membership vote" system will see the leadership decided by a mix of caucus (40%), party members (40%) and affiliated unions (20%) votes.
The deputy leadership will be decided by a straight caucus vote.
LATEST: Cunliffe just lost the plot
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EARLIER: Shane Jones has become the second Labour MP to join the party's leadership contest, joining Grant Robertson.
David Cunliffe, seen by most pundits as the frontrunner, is also expected to formally join the race before tonight's 10pm cut-off.
Political commentator and Otago University lecturer Dr Bryce Edwards says Shane Jones' run is likely a "flag waving" exercise.
The list MP's real agenda is likely to try and secure the deputy leader role, or possibly finance spokesman (Mr Jones chaired the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee during the Helen Clark Labour government).
Mr Jones' chances of securing the top job will be hampered by his controversies over expenses, his taste in hotel movies, and his role in the citizenship application of Chinese businessman William Yan.
This morning, he wasn't troubling himself to be too diplomatic. Mr Jones said Mr Edwards needed to "concentrate on teaching stage one students and stop talking about things he knows nothing about."
The new Labour leader will be named on September 15.
A new, "full membership vote" system will see the leadership decided by a mix of caucus (40%), party members (40%) and affiliated unions (20%) votes.
The deputy leadership will be decided by a straight caucus vote.
NBR staff
Mon, 26 Aug 2013
Mon, 26 Aug 2013
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Cunliffe officially joins Robertson, Jones in Labour leadership fight
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