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Chris Trotter: Labour staffer at centre of assault allegations must go

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Sep 2019, 5:19PM
The staffer needs to protect the party leader, Chris Trotter says. (Photo / NZ Herald)

Chris Trotter: Labour staffer at centre of assault allegations must go

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Sep 2019, 5:19PM

There is continued disappointment from the complainants against a Labour staffer.

Seven of the alleged victims have released a statement saying Labour ex-president Nigel Haworth needs to apologise

They have also called for immediate action regarding the alleged perpetrator to "ensure that no more people can be harmed."

Former Labour Party president Chris Trotter told Heather du Plessis-Allan that this isn't what Labour should do, but what the accused should do for the party. 

"When there is a scandal growing as fast as this one, it's really incumbent on those who are part and parcel in the scandal to do what they can to protect the party, most particularly to protect the leader." 

He says that this staffer would do the party a big favour to step aside. 

Trotter says that it is hard to believe Jacinda Ardern did not know about the case, but that during the youth camp scandal, it did appear that staffers had avoided telling her information to give her plausible deniability.

"It may be that they thought 'hey, it worked the first time, let's try it again'." 

A spokeswoman for the victims says they won't be talking to the media, given the ongoing efforts by Labour to establish their identities.

They've thanked Labour Party members who've sent them strong messages of support.

 

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