Benson-Pope at home yesterday. Photo / Chris Sullivan
Former Environment Minister David Benson-Pope has received the backing of his Dunedin electorate officials as fallout from his forced resignation continues, with Prime Minister Helen Clark hinting that more heads may roll.
Benson-Pope was lying low in Dunedin yesterday, avoiding the media. But at a morning meeting of
his Dunedin South electorate committee, members pledged support for the former Cabinet minister.
"The Dunedin South electorate committee retains full confidence in Mr Benson-Pope," committee chairman Richard Good told the Herald on Sunday.
"The events of recent weeks have been distressing for David. We offer our support for him and his family."
Good said "planned activity" in the electorate would continue as usual in the campaign to elect the next Labour government.
Benson-Pope did not attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, the storm over the conflict of interest controversy at the Environment Ministry shows no sign of abating.
Prime Minister Helen Clark told TV One's Agenda programme she was unhappy with the actions of Environment Ministry chief executive Hugh Logan in not fully disclosing the extent of his conversation with Benson-Pope over the position of communications manager Madeleine Setchell.
Setchell was sacked because her partner is chief press secretary to National leader John Key.
Benson-Pope had denied giving Logan his view on her appointment, but in Parliament on Thursday, on the advice of the Prime Minister, he admitted that he had, precipitating his resignation.
"I'm unhappy that that was not disclosed," Clark told Agenda.
"I'm just sorry that I wasn't told all the facts and the State Service Commission wasn't told all the facts when it dealt with Mr Logan."
When asked whether Logan still had a future as ministry chief executive she said: "When the Deputy State Services Commissioner spoke yesterday he was very clear that he was unhappy with this and there were matters he was reserving his judgment on. The employment of a chief executive, of course, at that point is a matter for them."
