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Labour MP Shane Jones says he doesn't want to be considered for the deputy position behind new leader David Cunliffe.
Mr Cunliffe was elected on the first round of balloting under the new preference voting system, in which party members and affiliated unions as well as MPs have a vote.
That means Mr Jones’ preferences, which he says were overwhelmingly in favour of Mr Cunliffe, did not come into play.
He says he achieved what he set out to do, which was to jolt the party and talk in a different way that made it relevant again not just to party members but to voters who have walked away from Labour
He'd like to see the caucus put one of its women MPs into the deputy slot currently held by the second placed candidate, Grant Robertson.
"There’s been a sense that they can do more and deserve better recognition. Well this is an opportunity for them to achieve that end, and they will have my support in that regard. I'm not interested in being the 2IC or the deputy but that issue really lies with our caucus," Mr Jones says.
He says while the majority of Labour MPs backed Grant Robertson, they now need to get behind David Cunliffe’s leadership or find new careers outside politics.
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