Senior Labour MP Damien O’Connor told a journalist to "f***’ off" in parliament today.
As the party’s slimmed-down caucus met to discuss various issues - including leadership and the future of the party – O’Connor was asked by Newshub’s Jenna Lynch, as he left a meeting room, if Chris Hipkins was still the leader.
His response: "F*** off. I am just going the toilet."
O’Connor lost his West Coast-Tasman seat on Saturday to National’s Maureen Pugh by 915 votes.
On his return from the bathroom he muttered "what are you doing here".
Labour leader Chris Hipkins was asked about O'Connor's outburst after his team's caucus meeting.
"Emotions have been running very high today and I think people would forgive a little intemperance," he told gathered media.
Lynch, the journalist who was told to f*** off by O'Connor, asked Hipkins: "Is it right what he said to me?"
"No it isn’t, but it has been a difficult day," he replied.
Labour MP Grant Robertson was also asked about the incident by media, but he declined to comment on the matter.
It comes as Hipkins announced he will be staying on as Labour leader, at least for now.
"I am certainly not going to rush any decisions and neither will the caucus".
He said while votes are still coming in, no decision will be made until the final make up of the next Labour caucus has been finalised.
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