Tizard time-bomb ticking under Mt Albert

Labour's "Tizard dilemma" is not going to resolve itself, with Judith Tizard hanging on to the ticket that will get her back to Parliament.

The cause of the problem is the Mt Albert byelection: if list MP Phil Twyford wins the seat, Ms Tizard would take his list spot.

Labour is so reluctant to have Ms Tizard returned that its parliamentary hierarchy has indicated it might bypass Mr Twyford and use someone from outside Parliament to replace Helen Clark.

Ms Tizard is viewed as dead wood and Labour is concerned the Mt Albert campaign could be undermined by a "vote Twyford but get Tizard" message.

She told the Herald she would not make any decisions about coming back to Parliament until she had to.

Ms Tizard said Labour would be silly to buy into the "Tizard dilemma" and try and keep her out.

"If there is not a place for a 53-year-old woman who has been in elected positions for 26 of her 31 years, I guess I would want to know what the problem was."

Ms Tizard said she had not yet been approached to stand aside, nor had she gone to the party to ask if there was a problem.

She said she was enjoying life outside Parliament and was astonished at the "craziness" of speculation about her possible return.

"I am gardening, I am spending time with my friends and family. I am reading, I am writing. I have just gone and bought a lampshade. I have a life."

Labour leader Phil Goff said the Tizard dilemma was a "red herring", but refused to openly back her return.

It contrasted with his recent openness about Damien O'Connor, who is likely to be returned to Parliament when Michael Cullen retires. The Tizard dilemma could therefore be deferred if Dr Cullen was to delay his retirement until after the Mt Albert byelection.