Ruling party backbencher Arthur Hodgson yesterday confirmed that he will not be contesting the next elections.

Mr. Hodgson said his bid to be nominated as the candidate for constituency 5, or Hamilton East, was rejected by the branch organisation. Labour leader Derrick Burgess was nominated instead.

“I have always believed that one should offer one's services where one is,” he said when asked why he did not offer himself somewhere else. “It's not about my being a member of Parliament, it's about being of service to your neighbours and I have always done that.”

He added: “You can't walk over one fellow who is lying in the street to get to someone else who needs help. The story of the good Samaritan is that you are bound to be of service to the person who is at hand and the neighbour principle dictates that you don't go to do the job you'd like to. You do the job which is at hand.”

He said he will continue to be of service to the branch in any way possible - including canvassing with Mr. Burgess. And he did not rule out running for elective office at another time.

The contest for the branch nomination is only one of several steps in the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) candidate selection process. Choices have to be finally ratified by the Central Committee's candidate selection committee which means that Mr. Burgess could be vetoed at some stage - especially if Tourism Minister Renee Webb decides to put up a fight for the district.

There are just three constituencies named for the parish which under the soon to be defunct dual seat system is held by four PLP MPs. One of them, Hamilton South, cuts into Smith's Parish, a traditionally United Bermuda Party (UBP) stronghold and was not a favourite among the current incumbents Arthur Hodgson, Renee Webb, Derrick Burgess and Randolph Horton.

Ms Webb, Mr. Burgess and Mr. Hodgson were left vying for the parish's two most desirable districts Hamilton East and Hamilton West, after a decision to have Mr. Horton run in a west end district.

With Mr. Hodgson out of the running altogether it remains to be seen whether Ms Webb is willing to compromise. Mr. Hodgson has had a checkered career with the first PLP government.

A Rhodes scholar, he was the party's first Minister of Environment but ran into trouble in 2000 when he unsuccessfully challenged Premier Jennifer Smith for the leadership of the party. He was dismissed from his cabinet post and remained a backbencher since. Yesterday he made clear his active support for the party and said that, all things considered it should be victorious in the July 24 poll.

“I don't think there are going to be any outstanding issues that's captivating. I think it's going to be a matter of general confidence and trust,” he said. He predicted “some decline” in support for his party “but generally speaking I think the PLP has demonstrated that they can govern and they will be returned again.”

As to his own personal feelings, he said he was grateful to the voters of the former Hamilton Parish West. “I enjoyed serving and I hope my service has been of some value. There were one or two items we were able to get done that we promised, but there's still lots of work to be done and I hope I will be able to help in getting some of it done.” Still “very much in my mind” is his pet topic as Environment Minister - sustainable development.

Mr. Hodgson plans to be a vocal advocate for senior citizens and family issues. “The biggest advantage of not being in Parliament is being able to talk more freely about the issues you feel most passionately about.”