Our friend and colleague, Labour MP Lynne Pillay, announced today that she won’t be standing for Labour in 2011. She’s decided that she wants to spend more time with her partner, children and grandchildren and no-one can argue with that (even although I wanted to).
It’s her call, but we will miss her.
Lynne is the best of Labour – she’s fearless, she’s great company and no-one will ever die wondering what she believes in. And she hasn’t forgotten where she came from.
The consolation is that we will get to spend another two years working with her in Parliament and in Labour.
But I just wanted to pay an early tribute to a staunch Labour woman and a fantastic MP.
Wow, I didn’t think she looked old enough to have grandchildren. She sounds like a great lady and I wish her all the best when she retires.
Good call. She is indeed a lovely person and was always staunch in her beliefs.
Her efforts recently regarding the harsh ACC experiment for sexual abuse counselling were noted and really appreciated.
When I think of Lynne I think of the Waitakere Ranges Act which she championed through parliament – that was a good show by a local member of parliament.
Well they Waitakere must have forgotten what she believes in because she found herself beaten. And I would say most people don’t even know her.
Its a great shame, but good luck to her in the future. As you said, it will be a while until we have to say bye anyway.
She’s a PIRATE! Arrrrrr.
is that in good way Kaine T?
she’s a great MP and I hope Phil kicks butt against basher bennet
@KaineT – you let the secret out – Lynne’s leaving to become a pirate!
She’s going to PILLAYge her way to a comfortable retirement.
I like the way she knocked section 59 on the head.
I too am proud to be a colleague of Lynne Pillay’s.
She’s stroppy and kind and principled all at the same time. That’s a great package to have as an MP.
Good call Lynne. Keep up the great work.
Had Labour and the EPMU not put so much into campaigning against Alliance candidate Laila Harre in Waitakere in the 2002 General Election then I think the Left would have been all the more stronger, and Harre would have been a far more vocal MP and effective voice for the Left.
Not doubting that Lynne Pillay is by all accounts a friendly and down to earth person.