Labour MPs silent on race

David Shearer, left, and David Cunliffe. Photo / Doug Sherring

Labour MPs are keeping mum on who they want as their next leader.

As time ticks away till one of the two Davids - Cunliffe or Shearer - is anointed by secret ballot on December 13, most caucus members were close-lipped yesterday .

Only Parekura Horomia spoke out, saying he backed Cunliffe, whose running mate is Nanaia Mahuta. Shearer is yet to pick a running mate.

Horomia, ranked six on Labour's list, said the well-being of Maori was the main issue for him. Fellow MP Trevor Mallard was unwilling to say who he backed. Asked whether the Labour number nine had any future leadership aspirations, he said: "You never know."

Former trade union boss Andrew Little, touted before the election as a possible party leader, said he'd decline a deputy leadership. "I'm a new backbencher and I'll be getting on with that as best I can."

He said emails from Labour Party members and activists were flowing into his office. Some included messages explicitly urging him to pick one of the Davids. Little said he had not yet decided.

Labour's number 21, Raymond Huo, said he wasn't sure if he would vote in the ballot. Carol Beaumont, ranked at 22 before the election, said she was just busy reflecting on her own polling-day loss. "I'm going to be busily working through that myself."

Last week, some MPs were lined up behind leadership contenders. But yesterday, none of the other 25 top-ranked Labour party MPs returned our calls.

Cunliffe and Shearer put their cases forward on TV3's The Nation yesterday. A clip of Cunliffe addressing a crowd at the Avondale Markets was screened.

Political commentator Deborah Coddington watched Cunliffe's performance. "This is why Cunliffe has a reputation for being patronising, and talking down to people. He even refers to Shearer as 'a great chap'. Bloody hell." However, Coddington said Cunliffe showed leadership abilities when discussing the Labour party's future and policy.