Clutha-Southland and National Party MP Todd Barclay hasn't been seen since announcing his resignation last month. Photo / Facebook.
Clutha-Southland and National Party MP Todd Barclay hasn't been seen since announcing his resignation last month. Photo / Facebook.
Disgraced MP Todd Barclay has resurfaced for the first time since announcing his resignation last month.
The National Party has been feeling the heat over Clutha-Southland MP Barclay's sudden disappearance, after allegations he secretly recorded a staff member during an employment dispute.
Barclay announced on June 21 that he wouldnot seek re-election.
In the three months until the election he will continue to have the benefit of taxpayer-funded travel, a taxpayer-funded car.
He'll also receive $40,000 in salary, a quarter of the basic MPs' pay packet of $160,000.
However, Barclay hasn't been seen in Parliament since announcing his resignation, has only rarely responded to media requests for comment through a spokesperson, and those who tried to visit his electorate office were told he wasn't there.
He's now posted on Facebook for the first time, seemingly in response to mounting questions about his whereabouts.
In the picture, he holds up a hand-made card from a constitutent, and beams widely into the camera.
"Been in my Queenstown office today working on constituent issues and signing out letters and it was nice to receive this hand-made card from a young constituent!" the caption reads.
One media organisation has commented, writing "Hi Todd, we sent you a card too - it had 10 questions on it. Talk soon?"
Other comments are a mix of people who angrily accuse Barclay of lying to the electorate, and supporters who thank Barclay for the work he's doing.
National Party senior whip Jami-Lee Ross has previously told the Herald that no decisions had been made about whether Barclay would return for the final four sitting weeks before September's election.
The Herald has made numerous attempts to contact Barclay since his resignation, including four attempts to contact him on his personal cell phone number. There has been no response to any of these attempts to contact the MP.
