M.P.’s party membership lapses

Press, 30 January 1981, Page 1

M.P.’s party membership lapses

PA’ Wellington The member of Parliament for Nelson (Mr M. F. Courtney) may not renew his membership of the Labour Party.

His membership exp : red in December and he said last evening he wouk prefer to put off renewing it until he had made up his mind about his political future.

Mr Courtney said in July that he 'would not stand again for Labour at the next General Election.

Since July he has clashed with the party leader (Mr Rowling) on several issues. Mr Courtney was particularly angry after the party’s December leadership crisis when Mr Rowling said Mr Courtney should not have taken part in the caucus vote. Mr Courtney is considering whether to stand as an Independent for Nelson in November or become the candidate for another political party. He will an-

nounce his decision on August 21.

A wide cross-section of people in his own electorate and that of Mr Rowling's neighbouring Tasman scat were keen for him to stand as an Independent. “I respect them and I respect their views,” he said.

Mr Courtney said he had also been approached informally to stand for the National Party — but the approach had not been from “high up" in the party.

He has also not dismissed the possibility of standing for a new Labour Party, if one arises.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Courtney said he was asking himself if he should attend the first Labour Party caucus of the year in two weeks.

But last evening he said he was determined to front up just to see if he fitted into the camp of the “nakedly ambitious” or the “political has-beens.” “But 1 might not stay very long,” he said. Mr Rowling called the December rebels against his leadership “nakedly ambitious” or “political has-beens.” The President of the National Party (Mr G. A. Chapman) said yesterday that the party had no intention of asking Mr Courtney to stand for National this year.

“We have no intention of solving Labour’s problems by taking over Mr Courtney,” Mr Chapman said.