Labour's party list sticks to A-team

By VERNON SMALL deputy political editor

Union-linked candidates and party workers top the list of Labour's likely 2002 intake of new MPs.

Labour released its party list yesterday after what president Mike Williams described as a smooth process that took just five hours and positioned the party for an election "at any time".

"In accordance with our habit and our policy, we have put our MPs first," he said.

Sitting MPs fill the first 37 slots in the line-up headed by Prime Minister Helen Clark, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Speaker Jonathan Hunt.

"If you've got a sports team that is doing really well the last thing you do is start replacing them, and this team is doing very well indeed. These are historic highs we are scoring in the polls," Mr Williams said.

Among the risers is Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia, at number five, well above his Cabinet ranking of 12th.

Surprisingly, Dover Samuels, who lost the Maori Affairs portfolio after his position was undermined by allegations of sex with an underage teenager years ago, is in 11th place - well above his Parliamentary Under-Secretary ranking of 24.

The two highest-ranked MPs outside the Cabinet are Nanaia Mahuta (19), who holds the Tainui seat, and Winnie Laban (20), a list MP this term who is standing at the next election for the Labour stronghold of Mana.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said her recommendation had been: "Stick with the people who have been part of a winning performance."

"It is a much more pleasant experience doing a list when your party is polling in the 50 per cents than it is when it is polling in the 20 per cents, and I have experienced both."

Mr Williams said the party was now ready for an election.

"An election is always in the air. We, at best, have 59 votes with the Alliance. It could happen at any time."

He said the talk of an early election had forced National to release "half-baked" policy and had "flushed out" Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash, who announced on Friday that he would stand for National.

Mr Williams had told Helen Clark of his view on an early election, but he would not disclose what he said.

However, he appeared to favour one, saying it did not harm Governments in Australia, where it was common. In New Zealand, the experience was inconclusive. Governments that called early elections had won in 1951 and lost in 1984.