Benson-Pope won't stand in election

Dunedin South MP David Benson-Pope has confirmed he will not stand in the election.

The widely expected announcement was reported today by the Otago Daily Times.

Mr Benson-Pope lost the Labour Party nomination for the seat he holds, and Clare Curran is contesting it for the party.

He held the seat for three terms and before that served as a Dunedin city councillor.

Mr Benson-Pope last year resigned as environment minister after Prime Minister Helen Clark said he had misled the public over what he had known about the Madeleine Setchell affair.

Ms Setchell was hired by the ministry but lost the position after its chief executive discovered her partner was a senior National Party press secretary.

Mr Benson-Pope fired a parting shot over his failure to gain the nomination.

"I acknowledge the widely-held view that the candidate selection was not in the best interest of the electorate, and that little regard has been given to the very high level of voter support that I have received," he said.

He urged voters to give their party vote to Labour on November 8.

- NZPA