A London MP expects the controversy over her appointment as head of a powerful Commons committee will be short-lived.

Sue Barnes, who represents London West, was chosen Tuesday to chair the finance committee. Two non-Liberals on the committee said Liberal MPs were pressured to vote for Barnes in a bid by the prime minister's office to raise the profile of women in the party's caucus.

The controversy won't interfere with her work as chair and is likely to die down shortly, Barnes said.

"I don't want to focus on the controversy. I just want to get to work."

Barnes was reluctant to discuss the role gender may have had on her selection as chairperson. She would only say she believes women should play an active role in all aspects of their communities and government.

Barnes ran against MP Roy Cullen, a supporter of Finance Minister Paul Martin, in the election for committee chair.

Cullen said he was surprised he didn't get the chair's post.

"I really don't know what the motivation was behind it. Two weeks ago I had some really strong signals that the job was mine from a number of different sources. Then suddenly something happened."

Tory Scott Brison and New Democrat Lorne Nystrom said Liberal party whip Marlene Catterall lobbied them to back Barnes as well as twisting the arms of Liberal members.

Barnes' denied there was anything unfair about her appointment. She insisted she has the experience and knowledge to be chair of the finance committee.

"This will not be the first committee that I have chaired . . . I do good work and I will continue to work hard to serve London and the rest of the country."

London MP Pat O'Brien supports Barnes's appointment. She's a qualified candidate and will perform her duties competently, he said.

"The controversy surrounding Barnes's appointment is unfortunate," O'Brien said. "It is unfair to say that she is not qualified. She is a very hard worker."

Though he admitted gender may have been a factor in Barnes's appointment, he denied it was the main reason Barnes was selected.