Barnett interested in whip's job

Labour MP Tim Barnett has confirmed he will probably seek election as a whip at the party's next caucus on Tuesday and junior whip Darren Hughes will probably seek to retain his job.

List MP Jill Pettis, the senior whip in the last Parliament, is not standing again because she wants to concentrate on winning back Whanganui from National.

Mr Barnett, the gay Christchurch Central MP who championed controversial legislation such as civil unions and prostitution law reform through Parliament last term, said yesterday he would probably stand for the job.

Asked if he had any aspirations to be a minister, the fourth-term MP said that was something that had never driven him.

He said the civil union and prostitution law reforms had been large and difficult challenges.

"It would be hard to imagine any other issues that would be quite so tough to deal with or would stand a reasonable political chance of progressing, so therefore it's probably time to move on to other things.

"I think probably being a senior or junior whip is as crucial to the Labour project as it is being a minister at the moment.

"I'm more concerned about interesting challenges than about what particular power positions I hold."

Mr Hughes said he would not seek the senior whip's role because he wanted to concentrate on the Otaki seat he holds by just 382 votes. But he would probably seek his old job back as junior whip.

"I've already done that job and I know I can do it - and it's not the same time commitment as senior whip."

Tuesday's caucus is also likely to see Labour's nominees for Speaker decided.

Prime Minister Helen Clark has indicated she is confident incumbent Margaret Wilson will be the nominee and be re-elected.

Mrs Pettis said she was not disappointed at being passed over for the Cabinet because she had not asked for a ministerial post.

She wanted to concentrate on winning back Whanganui. She was also not seeking a position as a select committee chairwoman.