Tim Barnett to leave parliamentary politics

Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, February 19th, 2008 - 10 comments
Categories: labour - Tags:

The Press reports that “Christchurch Central MP Tim Barnett has announced he will not stand as a candidate for any seat in the general election.”

At the end of October, Labour MP Barnett announced he would not stand for the Christchurch Central seat again.

Now he has withdrawn entirely, saying he will not put himself forward for the party’s list of potential candidates for seats around the country.

“When I announced my departure from Christchurch Central, I left open the possibility of a list nomination. Many have encouraged me to pursue that,” he said.

“However, there are exciting horizons for me beyond Parliament and I am keen to explore them.”

10 comments on “Tim Barnett to leave parliamentary politics ”

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  1. insider 1
    19 February 2008 at 9:50 am

    So when katherine Rich left it was a sign of dissent in National etc etc.

    Why wouldn’t this signify a similar issue in Labour? Young successful gwm quits after being passed over for promotion a number of times in favour of high performers like Darren Hughes, Judith Tizard, Damien O’Connor. He must have done something REALLY wrong to have not got a associate ministry.

  2. Daveo 2
    19 February 2008 at 9:53 am

    I don’t see any evidence that Tim Barnett had major issues with Labour’s ideological direction. The same can’t be said for Rich.

  3. the sprout 3
    19 February 2008 at 9:59 am

    and i think the fact that Labour has quite a few experienced front-benchers, of all hues and genders, means they’re in a slightly better place to be able to afford a loss.
    losing Rich halved National’s count of front-bench women, leaving only Judith Collins. Barnett’s departure will be a loss for Labour but it won’t leave anything like the hole left by Rich.

  4. deemac 4
    19 February 2008 at 11:01 am

    there is no comparison: Barnett has experienced high level office and is now ready to move on; Rich must have believed she was on the verge of achieving it yet chose that moment to go. Inexplicable!

  5. George Darroch 5
    19 February 2008 at 12:01 pm

    As has been discussed, I think all MP’s tire of the constant abuse, and it isn’t necessarily the best who stay on. This election will see Rich, Maharey, Barnett, and Tanzcos bow out, and Parliament will be poorer for that, but I respect their decision.

  6. dave 6
    19 February 2008 at 2:24 pm

    It is unfortunate that Tim is leaving. I think he was one of Labours best MPs. At least he appeared honest, was never caught out lying, was easily contactible – well I found hin easily contactible – and stuck up for what he believed in.

    I wish him well.

  7. Steve Pierson 7
    19 February 2008 at 2:43 pm

    So glad we don’t have the Kiwiblog Right commenting here. Farrar’s post on Barnett’s retirement is full of homophobia and prejudice.

  8. AncientGeek 8
    19 February 2008 at 3:26 pm

    SP: Don’t say that, we’ll wind up with them popping in. At least most of the ones who put comments here have got vaguely civilized recently. You can have a discussion rather than continuous insults.

    cap: bogey Teachers
    the mind boggles

  9. Tane 9
    19 February 2008 at 3:26 pm

    Steve, just had a look. It really is disgusting what’s going on over there. Tim Barnett’s partner is even being dragged into it. You’d think Farrar would close the thread or at least moderate the bloody thing. (What ever happened to his ‘moderators’ anyway?)

  10. Robinsod 10
    19 February 2008 at 3:31 pm

    His moderators do exist. In fact I had a beer with Rakauanui the other day. He told me they had all left after Farrar ordered them to call him Dear Leader and accused one of being Tane in disguise and another of being me. Apparently the last Rakauanui saw of him he was sealing his windows with duct-tape, ordering vast quantities of sterilising agents and had grown his fingernails to inordinate length. Oh how we laughed…