List shoo-ins 'break party ranking rules'

A move to strong-arm National Party members into guaranteeing safe list placings for sitting MPs is raising eyebrows within the wider party.

It is understood an attempt to guarantee the 43 returning MPs top-50 placings was initially approved.

But that was watered down after senior members pointed to party rules requiring regional rankings for all electorate candidates.

Regional selection meetings have been read a statement from party president Judy Kirk making it clear caucus rankings should be left to the leader John Key.

National insiders said at party regional conferences it was being made clear that MPs should be placed at or near the top of regional lists.

Sitting MPs have been exempted from making a statement promoting themselves, further underscoring their "privileged" status.

One senior National member said the issue was not about ousting particular MPs but was an issue of principle; the party's right to rank all candidates and curb the growing power of the caucus.

"It effectively ensures that if the regions are loyal they will guarantee the jobs of sitting members.

It's an ego thing [for MPs]. They fear they will be ranked lower by their region than ... their caucus ranking would indicate.

The concern is that the decisions have already been made ... which makes regional list rankings potentially a farce."

A guarantee of top 30 slots had been provided in 2005 to the 25 returning MPs. "But that was supposed to be a one-off."

Mr Key said there was a general agreement that caucus would be ranked reasonably near the top of the list.

Regional lists would be merged into the final list, which could include five list-only places, giving the party flexibility to promote new faces.

"There'll always be a tension between the party wing and the parliamentary wing, with those in Parliament obviously wanting to see their rights preserved, and the party clearly has responsibility to ensure the best are selected."

MPs would not be asked to present or attend meet-the-candidates events because they were already known well enough.

"I've made it clear ... we should be using our list to build greater ethnic diversity and ethnic representation in our caucus and I will be supporting names that fit that criterion."

- © Fairfax NZ News