This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/01/andrew-little-resigns-as-new-zealand-opposition-leader-weeks-from-election
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Jacinda Ardern becomes youngest New Zealand Labour leader after Andrew Little quits | Jacinda Ardern becomes youngest New Zealand Labour leader after Andrew Little quits |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Andrew Little, the leader of New Zealand’s opposition Labour party, has stepped down less than two months before the country’s general election, with his deputy Jacinda Ardern taking his place. | |
| The resignation comes after six weeks of declining popularity and three devastating weekend polls that placed support for Labour at just 23 to 24% – the party’s worst results since 1995. | The resignation comes after six weeks of declining popularity and three devastating weekend polls that placed support for Labour at just 23 to 24% – the party’s worst results since 1995. |
| Ardern, 37, was elected as the new leader of the beleaguered Labour party in a unanimous vote on Tuesday morning shortly after Little’s resignation, with Maori MP Kelvin Davis to be her deputy. | Ardern, 37, was elected as the new leader of the beleaguered Labour party in a unanimous vote on Tuesday morning shortly after Little’s resignation, with Maori MP Kelvin Davis to be her deputy. |
| Ardern joined the Labour party at 17 and was elected to parliament in 2008. She is well-liked by the general public for her warmth and informality. The sometime DJ and former Mormon polls well with the young and women particularly. | |
| But despite her “cool” factor she has been criticised for being inexperienced and untested. | But despite her “cool” factor she has been criticised for being inexperienced and untested. |
| In the past Ardern has said she was wary of being prime minister because of the pressure it would put on home and family life, and has long seemed ambivalent about taking the reins of the party, despite being a member for 20 years. | In the past Ardern has said she was wary of being prime minister because of the pressure it would put on home and family life, and has long seemed ambivalent about taking the reins of the party, despite being a member for 20 years. |
| After becoming leader Ardern tweeted: “I feel privileged and honoured to have been elected leader of the Labour Party, and ready for the challenge! Bring on 23 September.” | After becoming leader Ardern tweeted: “I feel privileged and honoured to have been elected leader of the Labour Party, and ready for the challenge! Bring on 23 September.” |
| Her deputy Davis is a former high-school principal who, as corrections minister, has taken a tough stance against the high numbers of Maori in prison, and the private-company running the institutions, Serco. | |
| In 2015 Davis flew to Christmas Island to gather evidence and raise awareness of the appalling conditions faced by New Zealanders locked up in Australian detention centres, calling their treatment “inhumane”. | In 2015 Davis flew to Christmas Island to gather evidence and raise awareness of the appalling conditions faced by New Zealanders locked up in Australian detention centres, calling their treatment “inhumane”. |
| The combination of Ardern and Davis leading Labour was described as a “dream-team” by political commentators in New Zealand, but they face a tough fight to scrape back popularity in the polls so close to a general election. | The combination of Ardern and Davis leading Labour was described as a “dream-team” by political commentators in New Zealand, but they face a tough fight to scrape back popularity in the polls so close to a general election. |
| Over the weekend Little, 52, asked his party if they would like him to step down, but they told him to stay and said they continued to support him as leader. | Over the weekend Little, 52, asked his party if they would like him to step down, but they told him to stay and said they continued to support him as leader. |
| However, on Tuesday Little cancelled all his morning media interviews and called a caucus meeting. Just after 10am he said it was in the best interests of the party that he resign. | However, on Tuesday Little cancelled all his morning media interviews and called a caucus meeting. Just after 10am he said it was in the best interests of the party that he resign. |
| “We’ve not been able to get our message out about the things that actually matter.” he said. | “We’ve not been able to get our message out about the things that actually matter.” he said. |
| “As leader, I must take responsibility for these results. I do take responsibility and believe that Labour must have an opportunity to perform better under new leadership through to the election.” | “As leader, I must take responsibility for these results. I do take responsibility and believe that Labour must have an opportunity to perform better under new leadership through to the election.” |
| “I am determined to make sure that Labour fights this campaign with the greatest of resolve, because far too much is at stake for far too many New Zealanders.” | “I am determined to make sure that Labour fights this campaign with the greatest of resolve, because far too much is at stake for far too many New Zealanders.” |
| Little said he was not pushed or pressured to depart as leader. | Little said he was not pushed or pressured to depart as leader. |
| Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni told Radio NZ there was “a little bit of sadness” at Little’s departure. | Labour MP Carmel Sepuloni told Radio NZ there was “a little bit of sadness” at Little’s departure. |
| “Not upset with the decision. Politics is hard. Andrew has done a great job for us and we admire the fact that he’s made this decision to step aside. There’s a little bit of sadness, but you’ve got to get on with the job. And that’s winning the election.” | “Not upset with the decision. Politics is hard. Andrew has done a great job for us and we admire the fact that he’s made this decision to step aside. There’s a little bit of sadness, but you’ve got to get on with the job. And that’s winning the election.” |