Labour MP Gaurav Sharma suspended from caucus
Labour MP Gaurav Sharma has been suspended from caucus effective immediately, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced on Tuesday, August 16.
Sharma will remain in the party and continue as MP for the Hamilton west and attend parliament but will not be allowed in caucus meetings or events, unless given specific permission by the caucus.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that Sharma has broken the “trust” of the caucus.
Sharma has caused much political noise by writing a scathing Op-ed piece for NZ Herald last Thursday whereby laying “bullying” allegations on the whip and senior leadership of the party alleging to be in collusion with parliamentary services.
It was followed by a series of social media posts doubling down on the bullying allegation, including posting screen shots of text messages of a private conversation alleged to be with another fellow MP that seemed to have breached Prime Minister and the caucus’ patience leading to “unanimous decision” of suspending the rogue MP.
Sharma did not attend Tuesday's caucus meeting
Sharma had not attended the caucus virtual meeting.
"I note that he did find the time to talk to media," Ardern said in the press briefing.
"Caucus has determined suspension is the most appropriate response to the repeated breaches of trust from Gaurav over recent days. This means Gaurav will continue as the MP for Hamilton West and be expected to be present Parliament, however he will no longer participate in any caucus events or activities unless caucus' permission is granted."
She said the decision was unanimous, and the team was clear that to function as a political party in a place where open debate and dialogue was key, you needed to be able to trust your colleagues.
"You need to feel you can speak openly and freely. That sense of trust has been broken by repeated breaches of our caucus rules over the last five days and that made the decision very clear."
Ardern and the party leadership have continued to refer to the allegations – which in particular accuse former whip Kieran McAnulty of bullying and gaslighting – as an employment concern between Sharma and the staff in his office.
Ardern said, based on the documents she has reviewed, the Labour whip's office and Parliamentary Service began working with Sharma to address concerns raised about his staff management. He was then asked to work with a mentor, which he objected to.
"Finally agreement was reached at the end of last year. Further issues were later raised by additional staff members including those in his direct employment, This resulted in another pause on hiring and again coaching, mentoring and temporary staff in the meantime.
"Gaurav again objected to this intervention and the need for his future hiring of staff or undertakings on his part. A protracted process ensued."
She has consistently refused suggestions that bullying is a widespread problem within the party.
She said Sharma's status would be reviewed in December, to allow a chance for a return to caucus if trust with him was able to be restored.
"But in making the decision to suspend, caucus were clear that the team retains the right to revisit the decision at any time if the rules continue to be broken. To be clear, the caucus' decision was squarely focused on actions over the last few days. What gave rise to those actions also deserves some reflection."
Informal caucus meeting a previous night
Meanwhile, just when the caucus meeting started around 2.30 pm on Tuesday, Sharma had contacted a few media outlets claiming that a caucus meeting had already been held on the previous night without his knowledge and an outcome was already “pre-determined.”
When Prime Minister was asked about such a caucus meeting held on the previous night, she acknowledged saying caucus members wanted to speak in a safe environment given the level of breach of trust happening with Sharma’s social media posts.
"It was an informal opportunity for issues and concerns to be raised in a safe space."
Ardern further reiterated that the suspension outcome was not predetermined on the previous night’s meeting.
Caucus will reconsider Sharma’s status in December
Prime Minister also informed that a mediation process will be offered to Sharma to resolve the “employment disputes,” and the caucus will be re-assessing on Sharma’s situation as a Labour MP.
Full agreement from all parties will be sought on that before proceeding.
"From my perspective, the decisions taken today is our conclusion to this episode. We have said all we have to say and established a process to resolve past grievances while setting out a path for Gaurav to return to caucus should he wish to."
Ardern concluded by saying mediation provided him a process for him to continue litigating his concerns should he wish to.
Labour MP Gaurav Sharma has been suspended from caucus effective immediately, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced on Tuesday, August 16.
Sharma will remain in the party and continue as MP for the Hamilton west and attend parliament but will not be allowed in caucus meetings or events,...
Labour MP Gaurav Sharma has been suspended from caucus effective immediately, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced on Tuesday, August 16.
Sharma will remain in the party and continue as MP for the Hamilton west and attend parliament but will not be allowed in caucus meetings or events, unless given specific permission by the caucus.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that Sharma has broken the “trust” of the caucus.
Sharma has caused much political noise by writing a scathing Op-ed piece for NZ Herald last Thursday whereby laying “bullying” allegations on the whip and senior leadership of the party alleging to be in collusion with parliamentary services.
It was followed by a series of social media posts doubling down on the bullying allegation, including posting screen shots of text messages of a private conversation alleged to be with another fellow MP that seemed to have breached Prime Minister and the caucus’ patience leading to “unanimous decision” of suspending the rogue MP.
Sharma did not attend Tuesday's caucus meeting
Sharma had not attended the caucus virtual meeting.
"I note that he did find the time to talk to media," Ardern said in the press briefing.
"Caucus has determined suspension is the most appropriate response to the repeated breaches of trust from Gaurav over recent days. This means Gaurav will continue as the MP for Hamilton West and be expected to be present Parliament, however he will no longer participate in any caucus events or activities unless caucus' permission is granted."
She said the decision was unanimous, and the team was clear that to function as a political party in a place where open debate and dialogue was key, you needed to be able to trust your colleagues.
"You need to feel you can speak openly and freely. That sense of trust has been broken by repeated breaches of our caucus rules over the last five days and that made the decision very clear."
Ardern and the party leadership have continued to refer to the allegations – which in particular accuse former whip Kieran McAnulty of bullying and gaslighting – as an employment concern between Sharma and the staff in his office.
Ardern said, based on the documents she has reviewed, the Labour whip's office and Parliamentary Service began working with Sharma to address concerns raised about his staff management. He was then asked to work with a mentor, which he objected to.
"Finally agreement was reached at the end of last year. Further issues were later raised by additional staff members including those in his direct employment, This resulted in another pause on hiring and again coaching, mentoring and temporary staff in the meantime.
"Gaurav again objected to this intervention and the need for his future hiring of staff or undertakings on his part. A protracted process ensued."
She has consistently refused suggestions that bullying is a widespread problem within the party.
She said Sharma's status would be reviewed in December, to allow a chance for a return to caucus if trust with him was able to be restored.
"But in making the decision to suspend, caucus were clear that the team retains the right to revisit the decision at any time if the rules continue to be broken. To be clear, the caucus' decision was squarely focused on actions over the last few days. What gave rise to those actions also deserves some reflection."
Informal caucus meeting a previous night
Meanwhile, just when the caucus meeting started around 2.30 pm on Tuesday, Sharma had contacted a few media outlets claiming that a caucus meeting had already been held on the previous night without his knowledge and an outcome was already “pre-determined.”
When Prime Minister was asked about such a caucus meeting held on the previous night, she acknowledged saying caucus members wanted to speak in a safe environment given the level of breach of trust happening with Sharma’s social media posts.
"It was an informal opportunity for issues and concerns to be raised in a safe space."
Ardern further reiterated that the suspension outcome was not predetermined on the previous night’s meeting.
Caucus will reconsider Sharma’s status in December
Prime Minister also informed that a mediation process will be offered to Sharma to resolve the “employment disputes,” and the caucus will be re-assessing on Sharma’s situation as a Labour MP.
Full agreement from all parties will be sought on that before proceeding.
"From my perspective, the decisions taken today is our conclusion to this episode. We have said all we have to say and established a process to resolve past grievances while setting out a path for Gaurav to return to caucus should he wish to."
Ardern concluded by saying mediation provided him a process for him to continue litigating his concerns should he wish to.
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