Barclay’s commitment questioned

Embattled Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay has been accused of neglecting the Gore heartland of his electorate in favour of the ‘‘glamour and glitz’’ of Queenstown. However, Barclay said he was committed to serving all parts of his electorate.

It is understood the work hours of the electorate agent in Barclay’s Queenstown office have increased from about 20 hours a week to 40; and the hours of his electorate agent in the Gore office have been reduced from 40 to 20.

Electorate agents do work for constituents in the areas they are employed. Gore has long been con- sidered the heartland of the Clutha-Southland electorate and is located near its centre, while the Gore office has traditionally been the electorate hub.

Barclay’s decision to have an increased staffing presence in Queenstown, at the apparent expense of Gore, was ‘‘very significant’’, a party member said.

‘‘It does make a statement about what he regards as important as far as his electorate is concerned.

‘‘He is moving away from his support base really . . . he is certainly moving away from the heart of the electorate.’’

Barclay was fond of the ‘‘glamour and glitz’’ of Queenstown, while farmers were ‘‘a bit down the scale as far as he is concerned’’, the party member said.

Barclay did not respond directly to these criticisms when answering questions by email.

Nor did he directly respond when asked if he planned to make Queenstown his base.

Barclay, who has been under scrutiny following a spate of resignations from his team, did say, however, he was committed to serving all parts of his electorate and having offices in Gore, Queenstown, and Balclutha.

He did not address questions about the changing work hours of his electorate agents, but he said the staff hours in each of the three electorate offices had been either maintained or increased since he became the MP in 2014.