NZPA: Labour MP David Benson-Pope says he remains loyal to the party, despite rumours he is preparing for a tilt at the Dunedin South seat as an independent.
Mr Benson-Pope currently holds the seat, but lost the right to stand as Labour's candidate at the election after he lost a tight selection battle following his forced exit from Cabinet.
The third-term MP has previously indicated he will not stand as an independent, but the Otago Daily Times reported today he had been telling people that under MMP they could vote for Labour with their party vote, but give their candidate vote to anyone they chose.
Mr Benson-Pope, who did not immediately return calls to NZPA today, told the newspaper: "My loyalty to the party is beyond question and I don't intend to change that. I understand what loyalty means."
Mr Benson-Pope is understood to have strong support in some branches of the electorate, but electorate committee chairman Richard Good told the newspaper public support was 100 per cent behind the new candidate Clare Curran.
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