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Pro-life National MP, Simon O’Connor is facing a re-selection challenge.
In June, National Party leader Christopher Luxon denied O’Connor’s right to freedom of speech and freedom of conscience after he told the MP to remove a Facebook post concerning the overturn of Roe v Wade.
“Simon O’Connor’s post was taken down because it was causing distress and does not represent the position of the National Party,” Luxon said in a June statement.
CathNews approached a person close to the National Party for comment.
“It’s just the political inexperience of Christopher Luxon coming back to haunt him,” CathNews was told.
“The party’s popularity is recovering slowly, (after Luxon’s take-down order), but people are still not fully convinced by Chris.”
“Traditionally, the National Party treats abortion and other life matters as conscience issues, and while not agreeing with O’Connor’s enthusiasm, I respect his right to his view,” CathNews was told.
However, Luxon also describes himself as being pro-life and last year said he believes abortion is tantamount to murder.
He also clarified that New Zealand’s abortion laws would not be “re-litigated or revisited” under a future National Government.
Over the weekend, it was confirmed that three others want to be National’s candidate in the Tāmaki electorate.
Well known for his pro-life views, O’Connor holds the seat for National with an 8,068 vote majority; the third highest of all National MP’s in the 2020 election.
It is the first time he has been challenged since he won the safe blue Tāmaki’s seat in 2011.
Apart from confirming he is seeking re-selection, O’Connor is refusing to discuss the challenge. Under National Party rules, nominees are not allowed to speak publicly until after the selection process.
“I’m very much focused on working with the excellent team here and putting to them why I’m still the best choice,” he says.
One of those reportedly challenging him is Claire Ward.
She is the sister to blogger Cameron Slater and the daughter of former National party president John Slater.
Family friends include Judith Collins.
Ward was a strong critic of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2021. She spoke out in videos on social media criticising the impacts of lockdowns on businesses and mental health, as well as the vaccine mandates.
To continue to be nominated to stand for National, O’Connor needs local party members’ and delegates’ support.
It is rare for sitting MPs to face a challenge in their own electorate.
All National candidates – including current MPs – have to go through National’s new screening processes before the next election. These processes include police checks and having their social media and personal history vetted.
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