10 Sep 2013

Cunliffe stands down campaign team member

9:33 pm on 10 September 2013

Labour leadership candidate David Cunliffe has stood down a member of his campaign team for comments she made about another candidate's sexuality.

Before the campaign started Labour Party member Jenny Michie told The Nation that she thought some people might have a problem with a gay prime minister, though she said she would not.

David Cunliffe told stuff.co.nz that he stood Ms Michie down on Tuesday morning.

He says it was a precautionary move because his campaign has zero tolerance for anybody who goes near the personal life of any candidate.

Mr Cunliffe says Grant Robertson is a terrific politician and needs to be judged on his merits, not on his personal life.