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Rachel Smalley: National on very dangerous ground with Barclay saga

Author
Rachel Smalley,
Publish Date
Wed, 21 Jun 2017, 7:17AM
Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay. Photo / Andrew Bonallack.
Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay. Photo / Andrew Bonallack.

Rachel Smalley: National on very dangerous ground with Barclay saga

Author
Rachel Smalley,
Publish Date
Wed, 21 Jun 2017, 7:17AM

The curious situation of Todd Barclay’s reign in the Clutha-Southland seat - a seat held by Bill English for 18 years.

The story broke on Newsroom, and it revealed that Todd Barclay, the young MP who took over that seat from English, is accused of illegally recording conversations in this electorate office. Conversations he wasn’t a party to which is a criminal act.

Bill English, who was Deputy Prime Minister at the time, knew about the recordings and the hush money payment that was made to Glenys Dickson whose conversations it’s alleged were recorded on a dictaphone by Barclay. She was Barclay’s electorate agent and had worked for the National Party in Clutha-Southland for 17 years. She resigned her position.

This throws up so many questions.

Police were investigating but after 10 months they dropped the investigation because of a lack of evidence. They contacted Barclay twice and he declined to be interviewed. He never gave a statement. Why didn't the National Party wade in here? Why didn't they insist he speak with police? Justice needed to be seen to be done.

The National Party says this is an employment issue. It's not. It's a criminal issue. You cannot record a conversation that you are not involved in, and now the Prime Minister, in an election year, is implicated. It's a very damaging position for National and Bill English to find themselves in.

And for all those reasons, Barclay has to resign. But here is the issue. Barclay has to chose to go because you cannot sack an elected MP unless they've been convicted of an offence that carries a jail term of - I think - at least two years. So on that basis, Barclay doesn't have to resign. He may chose to dig his toes in and that places National in a very difficult position.

Of course, bubbling away on the sideline is also this allegation that Barclay's selection as the Clutha-Southland candidate was rushed, involved improper votes and vote stacking by his family and supporters. That, in itself, is another issue but it's just as damaging.

What we will get a better indication of today is the inner workings of Todd Barclay's mind. Does he see himself as bigger than the party? Will he insist on staying on in that seat, despite the damage it's inflicting on National just three months out from an election? There will be enormous pressure on him to resign -- but will he? He's young. He's clearly very ambitious. Will he fall on his sword for the great and the good of National Party politics?

There are so many other questions that require answering too, not least what Glenys Dickson alleged on Newsroom.

She said this....“I was told if I didn’t withdraw the police complaint I could potentially take down the National Party...there was an (implication) that if National didn’t have Barclay in Parliament they were one short to pass legislation."

If that is the case, then the National Party is on very dangerous ground here. They have potentially perverted the course of justice.

But what a lesson this is. Politics requires a steady hand and a mature mind. Did Barclay have a mentor? Who was checking his behaviour? He is a young man who's accused of some pretty appalling behaviour - so why, at all costs, did the National Party protect him while some of their most loyal, long-standing, and trusted members were resigning under his leadership.

That is for the Prime Minister to answer.

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