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Little faces further backlash over Willie Jackson

Author
Sam Thompson, Claire Trevett,
Publish Date
Tue, 7 Feb 2017, 6:33AM
Willie Jackson is grilled by media after Labour leader Andrew Little announced the broadcaster would be standing for Labour. Photo / John Stone
Willie Jackson is grilled by media after Labour leader Andrew Little announced the broadcaster would be standing for Labour. Photo / John Stone

Little faces further backlash over Willie Jackson

Author
Sam Thompson, Claire Trevett,
Publish Date
Tue, 7 Feb 2017, 6:33AM

Labour leader Andrew Little says legitimate concerns about Willie Jackson's past conduct have been raised, and will be looked at.

An open letter which says it is from Young Labour members is urging Labour's New Zealand Council to reject Jackson as a candidate, citing his past comments on the Roastbusters case, his questioning of Labour MP Grant Robertson about his sexuality, and his support for charter schools.

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The letter say all three demonstrated his unsuitability to be a Labour MP. It also points to Labour's own rules to have a higher proportion of women in Parliament.

It follows Labour MP Poto Williams publicly saying she was concerned about Jackson's candidacy after his part in a Radio Live interview over the Roastbusters case - for which Jackson was suspended but then reinstated and has apologised.

Labour's caucus will meet for the first time since Jackson was announced as a candidate and other MPs are likely to voice concern then.

Little, who asked Jackson to stand for Labour, has stood by Jackson.

"There's a number of people who have raised legitimate concerns, and they want examination of that and that's right and proper and they've raised the issue with the council of the party, and that's a place to talk thoroughly and in depth about the issues and that's what will happen," Little said.

He said people don't necessarily lead unblemished lives, and parliament "is not the body of angels".

"I know that there is conduct in Willie Jackson's past that is a legitimate cause of concern and we've got to look at that and then we've got to weigh that in the balance with his conduct since then."

Jackson said he was not surprised there were mixed views about his candidacy for Labour.

"I think the majority of the Labour Party members are supporting me. Of course there are some who don't like me. That's life. That's the territory we are in."

He said he was happy to sit down with anyone who had those concerns to talk them out, but pointed out he had a history of supporting homosexual law reform and had apologised for the Roastbusters interview he did with co-host John Tamihere.

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