Ex-Labour MP Carter gives vote to Greens

Chris Carter. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Te Atatu MP Chris Carter, who was expelled from the Labour Party last year, has struck a deal with the Greens that will see them cast his proxy vote when he is not at Parliament.

Mr Carter, who was expelled after criticising leader Phil Goff said he still considered himself a Labour MP "in values and philosophy" and would have preferred to cast his vote with his former party, " but this has proved impossible".

Following his expulsion from Labour, Mr Carter said he had notified the party's whips of his wish to keeping cast his vote with them but had receive no response and his vote had been irregularly cast.

"I realised that I had to seek some way for constituents to have a voice recorded in Parliament."

He approached the Greens early this month and they had agreed to assist.

Green MP Kennedy Graham said under the deal, Mr Carter would tell the Greens whether he wishes to support or oppose particular legislation "and we will cast his vote accordingly".

"We will use the Green Party's position as a default if there are no specific instructions."

"Our sole aim is to help the voters of Te Atatu have their voice heard in Parliament. It is impractical, otherwise, for an independent MP to be present in the House for every vote on every Bill, every amendment, every motion, etc."

Mr Carter has also transferred his supplementary questions to the Green Party, but retains the right to use the questions with prior notice.