KEY POINTS:
If Prime Minister Helen Clark does not want former Cabinet Minister David Benson-Pope in Labour's ranks she should encourage another candidate to stand against him, National Party leader John Key says.
Despite speculation he would step down, Mr Benson-Pope has filed his nomination for the Dunedin South electorate with the party.
The Otago Daily Times said the 57-year-old had the full support of his electorate committee - meaning any attempt by party bosses to force him out would be difficult.
Miss Clark yesterday avoided endorsing Mr Benson-Pope, who was forced to resign from Cabinet for misleading the public over the Madeleine Setchell affair - despite repeated invitations by reporters to do so.
Mr Key today said it was up to Miss Clark to assess the standard of MPs she was happy with in Labour's ranks, but if he was in the same situation he would be encouraging an alternative candidate to stand against Mr Benson-Pope.
"You certainly wouldn't have him back in Cabinet and if you could find a better candidate I personally would put a better candidate up," he said on TVNZ's Breakfast programme.
Mr Key said the exodus of Labour MPs in the last week was telling for the party's fortunes.
"With all the others leaving it's looking a bit like rats jumping off a sinking ship at the moment - they go by the day."
In the past week senior Cabinet Minister Steve Maharey and list MPs Dianne Yates and Ann Hartley have said they will retire before the next election.
Miss Clark yesterday said more announcements were likely in the next week.
Mr Benson-Pope was forced to resign from Cabinet in July after misleading the public over a phone conversation he had about Ms Setchell, who lost her Environment Ministry communications job because her partner is the National Party's chief press secretary.
Miss Clark yesterday said electorate nominations were open to early November and it remained to be seen if another candidate would enter the fray.
Labour's executive council are expected to discuss the matter this weekend.
Labour's hierarchy gets three votes in the seven vote election for electorate candidates. The four other votes come from the local electorate organisation.
- NZPA
