An MP with no teeth and a ‘big setback’ for Labour: What people in MP Gaurav Sharma’s electorate make of his expulsion

Some Hamiltonians wonder if they are “left in limbo” following the expulsion of the Hamilton West MP from the Labour caucus, others are admiring his courage to speak up.

Gaurav Sharma is left being an independent MP following a spectacular break up with the Labour Party that concluded with him accusing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of orchestrating a “cover up”.

For the last 11 days, Sharma has been laying out a raft of bullying accusations against Labour Party and demanding an independent investigation against those claims.

On Tuesday, 60 Labour MPs voted to expel Sharma, while one abstained and another opposed.

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Labour whips said Sharma was able to vote before he was expelled, and the caucus voted unanimously to refer the matter to the Labour New Zealand Council, which could take further action.

Stuff asked people in the Hamilton city centre – in Sharma’s Hamilton West electorate – how they felt about the decision.

Jane Eyre understood why Sharma was expelled but wondered if it left the independent Hamilton West MP without any teeth.

“If someone’s in your party, and they turn against you… and he hasn’t stopped since he first made the allegations, so I understand how he can look like a traitor.

“I don’t really have an opinion yet whether he’s got a real good case or not because I don’t think we have got enough information. Possibly where there is smoke there is fire.”

However, Eyre said, Sharma had burnt his bridges with the party.

“I wonder if this leaves the people of Hamilton West in a limbo and whether he’ll have any teeth.

“If we take any issues to him, will he be able to help out?

“I guess it remains to be seen as to how much stronger he can go on his own.”

Ashok Verma suggested Labour was the biggest loser, having lost a seat and a new generation MP.

It could be a big setback to the party, Verma said.

“The seat will go back to National unless people like me come out in big support and Dr Sharma continues to serve as an independent party.”

For Luke Hanna-Batty, the decision was not surprising, but rather worrying.

“He was questioning Jacinda Ardern for an independent investigation, and they didn’t seem to go to far into it, which is what I am worried about.”

Dylan Fraser thought it was only fair Sharma got expelled as “he wasn’t essentially following party protocols”.

“If you don’t follow rules at work, you are potentially dismissed, and it is a similar thing.”

Rosalind Millar was shocked to learn the decision.

”He was brave enough to speak up, it’s been a surprise definitely.

“Hamilton West will still be represented in the parliament I guess, but just the fact that he has the courage to do this, and it needed to be said.

“He’s talked about the bullying which is always swept under the cover, which I just so disagree with.”

Jeff Fuller said the decision could work in Sharma’s favour as a “lot of people admire him for speaking out”.