Pressure on runaway MP to return to job – or quit
Resentment grows in electorate as $90,000 worth of pay and perks continue despite vanishing act.
Prime Minister Bill English says he’s expecting MP Todd Barclay back in Parliament next week.
The temperature has been turned up on the National MP this weekend, with mayors in his Clutha-Southland electorate saying he should either show up to work or quit – and he should front up to a police inquiry.
Despite claims from Barclay and senior Government whip Jami-Lee Ross that the MP had been hard at work, the only time he’s been seen in public since announcing his resignation was when he was spotted at the Pig and Whistle pub in Queenstown last week.
Police want to talk to him about allegations he secretly recorded the phone conversations of his electorate staff member Glenys Dickson in an ugly falling-out.
According to a Sunday StarTimes source, phone records show Dickson was in constant contact with English as she prepared an employment grievance against Barclay.
She had previously worked for English when he was the local MP, and the two are said to have communicated by phone or text message up to 10 times a day as relations with Barclay deteriorated.
Dickson received a settlement paid in part from then Prime Minister John Key’s leader’s budget, on condition she stayed silent. But after English revealed last month that he had been told of the covert recordings, Barclay announced he would step aside as an MP at September’s general election.
From the day he flew out of Wellington through to election day, he will have run up an estimated $90,431 in salary and allowances, including three months’ gardening leave for retiring MPs.
In addition, he can continue to charge his flights, taxis and accommodation back to the taxpayer.
Our reporters on the ground have documented Barclay’s electorate work since June 21. He has not returned to Parliament, did not turn up to the National Party conference, has not turned up to any of his scheduled public events in Southland, has not been sighted at any of his three offices in the large electorate, has cancelled his local newspaper columns, and has spoken publicly only three times – each time through a spokeswoman or by text message.
The third occasion was to the Sunday Star-Times for this article.
‘‘I remain the MP until the 2017 election and, until then, I’m committed and passionate about being actively engaged in issues, looking out for the people of Clutha-Southland’s interests and advocating on their behalf,’’ he said.
‘‘As for whether I return to Wellington or not, I still haven’t made a decision. Bearing in mind there are a number of other MPs every day who have leave from Parliament, some for extended periods, for a wide range of reasons. So it is not unusual.’’
But the excuses rang hollow in his electorate. Aileen Clarke, who owns the Catlins Cafe in Owaka, said resentment was building, and that taxpayers shouldn’t be paying Barclay’s salary when he didn’t seem to be doing anything.
Clutha District mayor Bryan Cadogan said Barclay should do the ‘‘honourable thing’’ and make a statement to the police.
Southland mayor Gary Tong wanted to talk to Barclay face-toface about whether he should resign or return to Parliament.
Barclay’s only defender was Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult. ‘‘From where I sit, he continues to do his job and do his best for the people of our district.’’
Ross said he was assured Barclay was working on constituency business. But challenged on whether he had seen any evidence, he admitted: ‘‘I don’t audit what MP do in their electorates. I take them at their word.’’
English said he expected Barclay to return to Parliament after the school holidays recess. ‘‘I assume he will turn up at some stage.’’