GOVERNMENT backbencher Dale Butler revealed yesterday that he had not been offered a chance to run for election in his preferred constituency of Warwick South East because Works & Engineering Minister Alex Scott had asked to run there.

The outspoken MP also expressed his feeling that the Progressive Labour Party's new and more lengthy process of selecting candidates was too time-consuming.

And he said he had been "very disappointed" at not being allowed to run in the new constituency 24 (Warwick South East) after he had spent a lot of time and money canvassing for votes there.

In response to the new 36-seat electoral system being introduced for this year's general election, the PLP has begun to disband its old branches, such as the Warwick branch, and is setting up 36 new branches.

Mr. Butler said: "The Warwick branch indicated it did not wish me to run in 24, because Alex Scott had asked to run there. I protested it for 24 hours and then agreed to run in 25 (Warwick North East).

"I was very disappointed because I'd spent a lot of time and money canvassing in 24. But if I had decided to fight the decision further I'd have lost valuable time.

"Right now I represent the whole of Warwick East and if I'd waited for them to approve me, I'd have lost November until March and that's time I couldn't afford to lose.

"In effect I've been canvassing since November 10, 1998 (the day after the last General Election)."

It was reported this week on VSB Radio that PLP chairman Neville Tyrrell was also interested in running for Parliament in constituency 25.

When asked yesterday whether that report were true, Mr. Tyrrell responded: "I am in no position to talk to the press about my political plans."

Nominations for the candidates for that constituency will be made at a meeting at Warwick Workmen's Club on Thursday, April 17.

Mr. Butler said he had written to Premier Jennifer Smith in January to express his interest in running in 24.

The Premier wrote back on March 24, reminding Mr. Butler of the new system of candidate selection, involving the 36 new branches replacing the nine old ones.

And instead of the branch committees making their candidate recommendations straight to the party's Central Committee, this year there will be two extra hurdles to jump.

The branch recommendations will be discussed by a candidates selection committee. Their recommendations will be passed onto an execuwill be passed onto an executive committee. And their recommendations will in turn go to the Central Committee for final approval.

"I think that having 36 branches when we used to have nine will really tax the party's resources," said Mr. Butler.

"And the longer process of selecting candidates could take eight to ten weeks. That's campaigning time that is being wasted, in my opinion.

"I accept the process, but I think the bureaucracy of it is slowing everything down. That is frustrating for people like myself.

"I don't have many hours to start running around when an election is called and you have six weeks to go. I like to go at a steadier pace."

Asked what he would do if the party denied him a candidacy, Mr. Butler said: "I haven't made any decision about that."

And he reiterated that he had no intention of running as an Independent. "I'm a die-hard PLP member, I have a 100 per cent attendance record in the House and I anticipate that people will recognise my worth to the party.

"I'm confident because last time, 20 people se-lected me but 1,200 people e-lected me."