New Zealand overtakes UK’s record with most gay MPs in parliament

New Zealand now has the world’s most openly gay parliament, surpassing previous record-holder, the United Kingdom.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is forming the first single-party government since New Zealand adopted a proportional voting system in 1996. Picture: AFP

New Zealand now has the world’s most openly gay parliament after elections that delivered a landslide victory and second term to Jacinda Ardern, allowing her to form the country’s first majority government in 20 years.

The Labour Party won 64 of the 120 seats in parliament, its best performance in five decades. The centre-right National Party, the main opposition, won 35, the Greens ten and minor parties the remainder.

The result enables Ms Ardern, 40, to form the first single-party government since New Zealand adopted a proportional voting system in 1996.

There are now 11 gay MPs in parliament, up from seven, which at more than 9 per cent is the highest proportion of any National Assembly. In Britain, previously the record holder, there are 45 gay MPs out of 650, or 7 per cent.

Seven NZ Labour MPs, including Finance Minister Grant Robertson and four Green MPs are gay, including Chloe Swarbrick, 26, the new member for Auckland central.

Four Green MPs are gay, including Chloe Swarbrick. Picture: Getty Images

“Numbers do matter,” said Louisa Wall, 48, who played for New Zealand’s netball and women’s rugby teams before becoming a Labour MP.

“We have a critical mass with high visibility and we’re seen as valid. If we do end up being the most LGBT representative parliament in the world, that would be simply great.”

Mr Robertson, 48, is expected to be made the new deputy prime minister.

So excited to welcome Labour's new MPs today. Such a talented, diverse and energetic group. #LetsKeepMoving pic.twitter.com/XwxwQHEfc4

— Grant Robertson (@grantrobertson1) October 18, 2020

Ms Ardern would not say if the Green Party, which she relied on for support in her first term and held three ministerial posts, would be included in her new administration, but agreed to hold talks. She was adamant that she would not adopt the Green’s centrepiece economic policy, a wealth tax, even if the result had left her reliant on their support.

“I have been a consensus builder but I also need to work with the mandate that Labour has been given as well,” Ms Ardern said in Auckland.

The election was dominated by her government’s handling of the pandemic. Only 25 people have died from COVID-19 in New Zealand but closing the borders to international visitors has crippled the tourism sector.

Ms Ardern was praised for her handling of the massacre of Muslim worshippers in two mosques last year by an Australian white supremacist.

The Times