Cullen to quit

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

ON THE WAY OUT: Former finance minister Michael Cullen is expected to quit politics before the May 28 Budget.

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Former finance minister Michael Cullen is expected to quit politics in the next two months.

Dr Cullen has made no secret of his plans to leave Parliament this term, after stepping down as deputy Labour leader after last year's election defeat, but has so far not set a date.

The former leader of the House had said he would stay to help pass on his knowledge of Parliament's procedures to his colleagues.

Labour leader Phil Goff declined to comment yesterday.

But party sources said Dr Cullen's departure was imminent, and would certainly be before the May 28 Budget.

"My gut feeling is it is sooner rather than later. He said he would be around for a while to get our feet under the desk. The next couple of months wouldn't be out of the bounds of possibility," one MP said.

Asked about his plans, and the suggestion he would quit soon, Dr Cullen said: "I have no comment to make at the moment."

The Napier-based list MP is building a house in the Bay of Plenty and its completion date is expected to be a trigger for him to go. That could mean him quitting about the same time as former prime minister Helen Clark if she is successful in her bid for a top United Nations post.

Miss Clark is in New York today for the first stage of the selection process for the job as head of the UN Development Programme.

It is understood she is one of 10, out of an initial field of more than 30, who are being interviewed by a panel.

It will draw up a short-list of three before making its recommendation to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon. He will make the final selection.

Prime Minister John Key has given her the Government's full backing for the post.

Miss Clark will be in New York for the rest of the week.

Former Tasman-West Coast MP Damien O'Connor is next on Labour's list and would be first in line to take Dr Cullen's seat.

Miss Clark's resignation would trigger a by-election in Mt Albert. List MP Phil Twyford is seen as the front-runner to be Labour's candidate. Next in line to replace him would be former Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard.

- © Fairfax NZ News