Peter Dunne does not want to be Speaker in any new National-led Government.
Dunne dismissed talk of the Speaker's job even before his lead slowly widened over Labour's Charles Chauvel last night, ahead by more than 1000 votes with almost all votes counted.
However, the United Future leader
said he would like to be involved in "tax, health, and matters relating to Child Youth and Family".
Asked if he had been promised Speaker, Dunne said, "No. I'm not taking that job."
The former Minister of Revenue and Associate Minister of Health since October 2005 isn't surprised his party survived.
"I feel elated but not surprised," he said. "I expected to be returned in a hurry. The relief of tension at the end of an election campaign is always significant. I'll just be very pleased when it's over."
The sentiments are not surprising considering the father-of-two's reputation took a king-hit in the lead-up to the election after the Dominion Post alleged he took a $5000 donation from Vela Fisheries back in 1999 as a lobby bribe to protect fishing stock. Dunne denied any connection.
Although the scandal made national headlines, Dunne maintained it didn't affect his popularity.
