With pressure mounting on National over MP Todd Barclay, political commentator Matthew Hooton thinks yesterday was Bill English's "worst day as Prime Minister".
The Clutha-Southland MP has been under fire since it was confirmed he left a dictaphone on in his office, which recorded conversations between staff.
Barclay has now been accused of inventing complaints against a former employee who went to the police alleging Barclay secretly recorded her.
The MP said earlier this year there had been complaints about his staffer Glenys Dickson from the public. He said he referred the matter to Parliamentary Services.
But Newsroom says it's seen a letter from Parliamentary Services to Ms Dickson, saying no complaints exist. The letter reportedly tells her it has no complaint about her.
Ms Dickson has told Newsroom she's angry and upset.
SEE ALSO: Rachel Smalley: National on very dangerous ground with Barclay saga
Barclay denied recording the conversations of his former electorate agent Glenys Dickson, whose complaint to police sparked a 10-month investigation.
In a sensational development, Prime Minister Bill English yesterday confirmed he had provided a statement to police and told them Barclay had told him he left a dictaphone running in his electorate office and had recordings of his staff.
SEE ALSO: Barry Soper: Todd Barclay saga shows lack of leadership
Matthew Hooton told Mike Hosking the saga has been a "disastrous look" for Mr English.
"Too many days like this we'll be getting a Labour-Greens-Harawira-Maori Party government, so they have to sort this out quickly."
But Hooton said Mr English needs to be cautious because it's a big deal to try to throw Mr Barclay out of the party.
He told Mike Hosking it's no good Mr English or Steven Joyce going on radio saying Todd Barclay should step down.
"Because if he says I'm not going to, it just makes them look more stupid, so probably deep breaths are needed, and a few days need to go by and see what more Newsroom have about this guy," he said.
LISTEN ABOVE AS MATTHEW HOOTON SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING
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