Bob Baldwin has ruled out defecting from the Liberal Party to contest Lyne as an independent.
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He was responding to rumours circulating in the media that he may be considering the move after the recent federal electorate redistribution.
To read all about the redistribition see our background story here
In a statement to the Great Lakes Advocate his media advisor wrote: 'Paterson MP Bob Baldwin has dismissed suggestions he will run as an Independent at the next election.
Mr Baldwin said he was still considering his political future but categorically ruled out running as an Independent.'
Mr Baldwin had held a 9.8 per cent margin in the seat of Paterson, but the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) changes (represented in the map below) have resulted in a notional Labor majority of 1.3 per cent.
Paterson took in the Great Lakes but is now a Hunter Valley-based electorate with many former constituents based in the neighbouring seat of Lyne. Lyne is held by the Nationals David Gillespie, meaning that a Liberal candidate cannot challenge due to the Coalition agreement in NSW.
