Alliance Party throws its support behind ex-President Matt McCarten in Mana by-election

Former Alliance Party President Matt McCarten took the Alliance Party by surprise with his last minute decision to stand as an independent candidate in the Mana byelection with the support of UNITE Union.

However the Alliance is backing Matt's campaign in the interests of a strong left challenge to National and Labour in the by election, despite having already selected its own candidate.

Alliance Party co leader Kay Murray says the Alliance had already selected candidate Kelly Buchanan for Mana, who was prepared to withdraw her nomination when Matt McCarten announced his candidacy yesterday.

The Alliance was unable to file papers to withdraw in time before nominations closed, so Ms Buchanan's name and the Alliance will appear on the ballot papers.

The Alliance acknowledge that Matt has a high profile and therefore the greatest chance of success in pulling in a strong left vote in this by election.

The Alliance Party and Ms Buchanan say that Alliance supporters should therefore vote for Matt McCarten in the Mana by election.

Alliance Party co leader Kay Murray says the Alliance has supported the Left working together for many years and it has been in contact with Matt McCarten to offer its support for his campaign in Mana.

"If it comes down to the wire, Alliance votes may make a real difference to the outcome for building opposition to National's right wing agenda and Labour's flip flopping."

The Alliance has promoted for many years some of the key goals of Matt McCarten's campaign, she says.

The Alliance agree the minimum wage should be lifted immediately to $15 an hour, though Alliance policy recommends a minimum wage of $17 an hour as a realistic figure.

The Alliance was also one of the organizers of the recent Tax Justice campaign and national petition to remove GST off food and replace it with a financial transactions tax.