MP in the firing line
Born in Gore in 1990, and raised in Southland’s Dipton, for many years the political base for Bill English. His parents Maree and Paul Barclay ran the local Four Square and post office. After finishing Gore High School, Barclay went to Victoria University in Wellington to study for a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in commercial law. He got an internship with English after emailing him out of the blue, and later worked for then-Prime Minister John Key and Cabinet ministers Gerry Brownlee and Hekia Parata. He left those roles for a job with the public relations firm SweeneyVesty before becoming corporate affairs manager for the cigarette company Philip Morris. At just 24, Barclay succeeded Bill English in the Clutha-Southland electorate, which seemed certain to guarantee him a long political career. Entering Parliament, Barclay took on the role of deputy chair of the law and order select committee. He also responded to questions about his work in the tobacco industry, telling Fairfax: “The company’s a legal company selling a legal product. No smoker, or non-smoker in the country can say they’re not aware of the consequences of smoking and that they didn’t know where to go to seek assistance if they want to quit.” His chances of retaining his safe seat were reduced after it emerged that police were investigating claims he had recorded staff working in his office. Several long-serving staff members resigned in quick succession. But he survived a potential deselection late last year and was re-confirmed as National’s candidate. A number of sitting MPs rallied behind him during the nomination process, including Judith Collins. Barclay suggested that he had been vindicated by his reselection victory, saying it was robust and transparent, and that he had won “quite convincingly”. The 27 year old lives in Gore and Queenstown. He recently bought a house near Arrowtown, where the average price is more than $1 million.