Police investigation continues
While Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay has signalled he intends to leave the country, the police investigation into allegations he recorded a staff member in his Gore electorate office is continuing.
Police confirmed yesterday that the investigation is continuing, but would not comment on whether Barclay had been interviewed or whether he would be extradited from London, where it is understood he plans to move to, should police decide to lay charges.
Police would not confirm whether Barclay had advised them he intended to leave the country or whether he had given them new contact details before he left.
A police spokesperson said they could not indicate how long the investigation would take.
Police initially dropped their investigation into the allegations Barclay recorded the conversations of staffer Glenys Dickson when Barclay refused to comply with a request for an interview.
Dickson was paid settlement money topped up from then-Prime Minister John Key’s parliamen- tary budget after she learnt of the recordings and engaged an employment lawyer.
Police reopened the investigation when Prime Minister Bill English said he told police in April 2016 that Barclay had told him about the recording.
Barclay remains Clutha-Southland’s MP until tomorrow’s general election, but has rarely seen in public since announcing his resignation as a National candidate in the electorate on June 21, despite still being paid his annual salary of $165,000, plus travel and accommodation expenses.
He is also expected to receive a three-month gardening leave payment after the election.
Mountain Scene reported last week that Barclay was leaving the country on Tuesday seeking employment opportunities in London.
Stuff reported his Arrowtown home was under offer last week.
Supporters have wished him well for his journey, on his social media page, where on Tuesday he posted a photo of himself catching a prawn on a fishing line at an unknown destination.
Hamish Walker is now the National Party candidate for the Clutha-Southland electorate.