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NSW Labor candidate for Manly withdraws

An academic who hoped to run for Labor in a hotly contested seat on Sydney’s north shore in the NSW election has withdrawn after a flurry of social media posts, AAP reports.

Caroline Yarnell was apparently endorsed by the party to run in Manly, but her candidate information page was deleted from its website on Tuesday.

Yarnell, who holds a PhD in political science and government, announced her intentions on LinkedIn last year.

She told AAP on Tuesday she would not go into detail about what had happened but still wanted Labor to win the March election.

“I withdrew, sent an email on Friday. However I really did not want to withdraw and my branch here is very unhappy,” she said.

“I wanted the issue dealt with. So, it’s an internal Labor matter.

“They have refused to re-endorse me, so that’s it. They deleted my Facebook page and Instagram today at my suggestion.”

Nomination forms require individuals to deactivate social media accounts ahead of becoming candidates for NSW Labor, AAP understands.

The state party leader, Chris Minns, said he was unclear why Yarnell pulled out of the race and had tried and failed to contact her on Tuesday.

“I intend to have a conversation with her,” he told media.

“Obviously, we don’t like to lose candidates, particularly weeks out before the election campaigns.

“I don’t know the circumstances other than what I’ve read on social media.”

Minns said the party had not secured another candidate.

On Monday, Yarnell shared cryptic posts online saying she could not say why she was no longer standing.

“One festering, worm-addled apple won’t ruin the crop – believe me,” she said in a reply to another Twitter user.

“What I’d love is for (billionaire founder of Atlassian Mike Cannon-Brookes) or similar to sponsor me and help me as an independent candidate for Manly,” she said in another tweet.

“I’d like to wear pink or purple please.”

The seat of Manly is held by the current environment minister, James Griffin, and was previously held by former Liberal premier Mike Baird.

Manly is encompassed by the federal electorate of Warringah, which was won by Independent Zali Steggall from former prime minister Tony Abbott in 2019.

Comment has been sought from NSW Labor.