GlassBooth

This is a conscience issue for Labour MPs and the party takes no stance on the issue. Most Labour MPs were supportive of the Civil Union Act that gave legal recognition to same sex couples, with 45 in favour and six against. When asked by Express magazine recently whether she would support a gay marriage bill, leader Helen Clark said, “I would have to think about that, because as a party I think we’d be likely to take a position, and our previous position was that Civil Unions was what the traffic would bear.”

The Easter trading issue has usually been treated as a conscience vote in Parliament and the party says this would be a conscience issue for Labour MPs. In November 2007, the government announced it was seeking submissions on the issue, but in March 2008 decided not to proceed with legislation. News media quoted Labour Minister Trevor Mallard today saying, “the Government would not introduce legislation on the issue as submissions to the review were polarised”. But a spokesperson adds that , “Where shops are trading on public holidays Labour supports workers rights to fair pay and conditions”.

Labour supported the amendments to section 59, with all MPs voting in favour. Leader Helen Clark has said, “"There's absolutely no reason for decent parents to be scared at all, because the law, which was passed near-unanimously, makes it clear no inconsequential action is going to be bothered with by the police."

Labour supported the establishment of the Families Commission and recognises the valuable contribution they have made to research about and advocacy for families. A spokesperson has said this year that, “We think the Families Commission does an important job and will continue to fund it”.