TONY Windsor tried to do a preference deal with Independent candidate Rob Taber before deciding to re-contest his old seat of New England, the Armidale Express reports.
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Mr Taber said he refused the deal, saying a “true independent should allow the voter to make up their own mind”.
"I was very surprised when Tony asked me for preferences, because as an independent he had never done preference deals," Mr Taber said.
"So I told him I wouldn't be doing preference deals."
Mr Windsor said the preference deal was "not really in that context".
"We talked preferences and I said I'd vote for him if he voted for me" Mr Windsor said on Thursday.
We talked preferences and I said I'd vote for him if he voted for me
- Election candidate Tony Windsor
But Mr Taber remained adamant that "the preference deal was discussed at a lunch in Tamworth on Friday".
"Tony talked about a preference swap; he's let me down badly and his decision has really annoyed me, because had I known his true intention, [to re-contest the seat of New England] then I wouldn't have decided to stand myself," he said.
