Nick Smith could return to Cabinet

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Nick Smith could return to Cabinet

3News NZ

National MP Nick Smith (file)

National MP Nick Smith (file)

By Political Editor Duncan Garner

A deal is being struck that is likely to see former minister Nick Smith, return to Cabinet later in the year.

Parliament's speaker is soon to be confirmed as our next High Commissioner in London, and that means the door for Dr Smith swings back open.

Parliament is a cosy club where deals are struck daily and a deal is being done that will see 28-year veteran speaker Lockwood Smith head to London by December to be our next High Commissioner.

Although no one is ready to confirm it, it's all but done.

“It's eminently possible that Lockwood Smith may have an overseas posting, the Government hasn't denied that,” Prime Minister John Key says.

And 3 News can reveal long time minister David Carter is the man John Key has lined up to be the next Speaker, although when we hit him up he first denied it.

“No definitely not,” he said.

But he didn't take long to come clean.

“I've had some preliminary discussions, nothing more formal than that… [about] whether I'd be prepared to be speaker.

“If I received a formal proposition I'd seriously consider it.”

Mr Key wouldn't talk about the discussion.

“Again I'm not going to speculate on that before some decision is made on whether Lockwood Smith is going to head overseas.

Mr Carter is the Local Government Minister and 3 News understands when he becomes Speaker, former Minister Nick Smith - who resigned in the ACC scandal earlier this year - is in line to return to that portfolio, and Mr Key won't rule that out.

“There would have to be an opening, at the moment there is not an opening."

Lockwood Smith refuses to discuss the London posting publicly, but privately - and with some discomfort he admits a deal is being struck.

These deals are common in politics - it keeps an ageing politician's career alive and gives them a dignified exit, commonly known as “jobs for the boys”.

3 News

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Comments

3/08/2012 6:43:05 p.m.

Nick wrote:

That was always going to happen, gees this country will never go forward, money wise, if this government is in parliament and this government makes it look as if people on the dole are the crooks.

3/08/2012 4:05:15 p.m.

Antony Cotton wrote:

It will be great Nick Smith I live in his Electorate the Guy is wonderful MP and John Key needs experience Like Nick in his Cabinet Smith does a great Job as Minister and Local MP Beats the Hell of Shearer and Labour Party who cannot get a Leader with any common since the Labour Caucus choose Puppet Leader in Sharer run by Mallard King and Goff. I use to vote Labour but 2014 I will vote National back for third term.

3/08/2012 8:05:26 a.m.

richard wrote:

I agree, Nick Smith should resign permanently. I agree too that National really is just an ethically and morally shoddy -- I guess I have to say, corrupt -- government. The public have lost all faith in Nick Smith because of his evident disdain for the democratic responsibilities that come with power. He has little regard for due process. Bad Move, Mr Key.

3/08/2012 5:31:05 a.m.

alison wrote:

Nationals corruption at play again

2/08/2012 7:48:56 p.m.

jono wrote:

Nick Smith should stay on the back benches, or preferably disappear altogether. He's done enough damage over the years.

2/08/2012 6:41:25 p.m.

David wrote:

Shows you that in National if you are corrupt like Smith is... all that will happen is you will be shuffled off the front benchs for a few moments until they find an opportune time to put you back in there. Same thing happened to the idiot Heatley. Smith should resign completely for his incompetence... but apparently the more incompetent you are in National the more you get rewarded. Bennett broke privacy laws... got rewarded.... Healtey stole from tax payers... and Smith used his position as Minister to influence ACC for a friend. This is one corrupt government... and you cant expect much else with Key as its leader... you cant get anymore ethically or morally corrupt than John Key.