Mr Kirk renews revenge vows

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 1

Mr Kirk renews revenge vows

PATRICIA HERBERT

in Parliament

Talking tough and in a fighting mood, Sydenham’s Independent member of Parliament, Mr John Kirk, yesterday threatened to lose the Labour Party a seat in this year’s General Election.

He made the threat shortly before voting with the Government against the nuclear-free New Zealand bill sponsored by the Labour member for Auckland Central, Mr Richard Prebble Mr Kirk fell out with the Labour Party last year when he announced his retirement from politics and Labour’s president, Mr Jim Anderton, won the nomination to stand for Sydenham. He disapproved of Mr Anderton’s candidacy and said that he would stand against him as an Independent.

Mr Kirk said yesterday that this was still an option but indicated that, if he stood at all, he would stand in a seat where he could most damage Labour’s chances of winning. “Whether I stand as an Independent for Sydenham or anywhere is something for me to decide and I will make the decision as it suits me in relation to the political climate at the time." he said. He would not contest a seat unless he was satisfied that he would win between 1000 and 1500 votes "absolute minimum” and he would stand only if the Labour Party "could net behave themselves." He would then choose a marginal electorate where he would be "most effective in losing Labour a seat."

Mr Kirk is bitter at the treatment he has received

from the Labour Party since his expulsion and particularly at the demonstration at his wedding which was organised, he said, “with the knowledge and support of the Labour members of Parliament."

Tired of being insulted and attacked, he intended to retaliate, he said. "They called me a blowfly but they are the dump I came from. I have had more than my fair share of dirt thrown at me but dirtthrowing is a two-way street and I have been doing research over the holidays and now have a couple of bucketfuls of dirt to throw mvself.”

He would use the protection of Parliamentary privilege. he said.