Lord to focus on career

A candidate who said there was no long-term future for the white middle class in Labour, says he still aligns himself with the party policies.

Rohan Lord withdrew from standing for the East Coast Bays Electorate last week and said he understood the need to have other ethnicities represented in the party and the 50:50 male to female caucus goal.

‘‘I’m very appreciative of Labour considering me and fully endorse and identify with their policies … but for the very average middle-of-the-road, white, middle-class person like myself, I couldn’t see a pathway forward.’’

The East Coast Bays electorate has been held by National for the last 30 years, with the exception of two terms when it was replaced by Albany, an electorate held by National in that time. With longstanding MP Murray McCully stepping down this year, Lord said he was hoping for an upset.

‘‘I think if anyone had a look at that area it’s completely blue,’’ he said. ‘‘If you look at the policies, anyone would vote Labour. But for some reason people have been programmed, if their parents are blue, to vote blue.’’

Lord said some of the key issues for the area were health and education access, housing and infrastructure, including for businesses.

He said he planned to now focus on his career and while he’s still interested in politics, he wouldn’t run again until there were changes.

‘‘With the current system, it’s a massive investment and getting yourself in these upper reaches of the party takes a lot of work,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s not easy that’s for sure.’’

‘‘I couldn't see a pathway forward.’’ Rohan Lord

Account manager Rohan Lord says he will focus on his career, after his withdrawal from the East Coast Bays Electorate race.