Election 2023: Chris Hipkins says he has 'no plan B' if Labour loses

  • 02/09/2023

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he has "no plan B" when it comes to the party leadership should National win this year's election.

On Saturday, Hipkins sat down with Newshub Nation host Simon Shepherd for a pre-election interview ahead of Labour's campaign launch.

Asked whether he'd remain on as Labour leader should he be ousted by National and Christopher Luxon, Hipkins said his sole focus was on winning.

"I don't have a plan B," he said.

"I'll think about plan B the day after the election in the event that's what happens but my focus, in the next six weeks, is to get out there and to win the election for Labour."

Luxon, during an interview in December, also wouldn't say whether he would stand down as National leader should his party be unsuccessful at the election.

Chris Hipkins.
Chris Hipkins. Photo credit: Newshub Nation.

"I haven't got to think about that, I'm just very much focused on doing what I need to do to make sure we are doing our job," he told Newshub.

Previewing his first campaign as Labour leader, Hipkins told Newshub Nation his focus would be on setting out priorities and what he'd like to do as Prime Minister.

"Obviously, I came in… towards the end of the parliamentary term and so I was inheriting a work programme that was determined by my predecessor."

During the interview, Hipkins said he wanted New Zealanders "to give me a full term so that I can show them what I can actually do" as Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, he also accused National of putting "nonsense" before the electorate.

Watch the full interview above.