Carter rules out London

The Herald reports:

Speaker David Carter has slapped down speculation he wants a top diplomatic posting – after New Zealand First leader Winston Peters intimated he would block such an appointment if in power.

After Mr Peters’ comments yesterday, Mr Carter has taken the unusual step of delivering a press statement to press gallery reporters, denying he wanted a change of job.

“Despite persistent media speculation, it has never been my interest or intention to become New Zealand’s High Commissioner in London,” the statement read.

“I am honoured to be Speaker of the House of Representatives. I enjoy the role, and intend to carry on with that role as long as I have the confidence of the House.”

High Commissioner to Britain Sir Lockwood Smith will step down early next year when his term ends.

This afternoon Foreign Minister Murray McCully said a decision on his replacement was in its final stages and focussed on one candidate, who was not a politician.

“I can tell you that Mr Carter’s name has not featured … we have somebody in prospect for London, who is not a Member of Parliament … I’m not expecting Mr Peters to be very upset when he finds out who it is.”

Anyone who knows David Carter knows that he was not wanting to be the High Commissioner to the UK.

In a speech to students at Victoria University yesterday, Mr Peters attacked the “brorocracy” of recent diplomatic appointments.

“As an example of how meritocracy has been abandoned in favour of a mainly white brorocracy look no further than how some of our high commissioners and ambassadors are being appointed.

The hypocrisy is high with this one.

Winston is the guy who lobbied Helen Clark insistently to make Owen Glenn the Honorary Consul to Monaco, after Glenn paid off his legal bills for him.