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Departing Justice Minister Mark Burton says no pressure was put on him to quit the Cabinet, nor was he offered any sweeteners to walk away.
Mr Burton announced he was quitting to spend more time campaigning in his Taupo electorate.
He has come under fire for his handling
of the Government's flawed Electoral Finance Bill, which has allowed the Opposition to portray Labour as anti-democratic.
He said his decision to quit the Cabinet after eight years as a minister did not relate to the bill, despite speculation his handling of it would lead to his being dumped.
He said he had been put under no pressure by Prime Minister Helen Clark to free up a Cabinet spot.
"I can say to you categorically there was no pressure to go - there was no hint, suggestion, inference or expression or view from anyone ever that I should do that. This is a decision I reached with my family after several months of considering the next phase of my political life."
The 51-year-old fifth-term MP has made no secret of the fact that he would like to be Parliament's Speaker, but he said no deal had been struck to pave his way out of the Cabinet. There has been speculation that Speaker Margaret Wilson will announce her retirement ahead of the election.
Mr Burton said he had informed Helen Clark of his decision several weeks ago. Despite leaving the Cabinet, he believed he still had a lot to offer Labour as a local MP and was seeking reselection.
Mr Burton is the only Labour member to have so far put in a nomination for the Taupo seat.
His electorate committee chairman, Michael Robyns, said he had strong support among local party members.
Mr Burton accepted that he faced a stiff fight in Taupo and would have to "earn the right" to be its MP.
He said he had not decided yet whether to also stand on Labour's list.
Even without a swing against Labour, his 1285-vote majority has been eroded by boundary changes that bring National-leaning Cambridge into his electorate and cut off Taumarunui.
In the reshuffle, Mr Burton's Justice portfolio was picked up by Annette King, while Michael Cullen gets Treaty Negotiations and Nanaia Mahuta Local Government.
- NZPA
