PM advises Todd Barclay to talk to police

The police have revealed they will restart an investigation into allegations MP Todd Barclay intercepted the private communications of his staff.

In a statement, the police say this follows an assessment of a range of information and comment in the public domain over the last week.

“Police have commenced speaking to a number of individuals who may have relevant information.”

Prime Minister Bill English told reporters before going into the House this afternoon that he would advise Mr Barclay to talk to the police. 

Mr English says he will be co-operating with the police if he's asked, but would not comment when asked if the police have already been in contact. 

Asked if Mr Barclay should stand down while he is being investigated, Mr Englush says that decision is up to him. 

"In the past, MPs have remained in Parliament while they have been investigated."

The police statement today says any new evidence which is gathered will be carefully considered to determine what, if any impact it has on the outcome of the original investigation.

“This will be a thorough process with oversight from a senior detective. However, at this stage we are unable to put a timeframe on how long it might take.”  

Police had previously investigated the incident for 10 months but found insufficient evidence to continue.

At the time, Mr Barclay declined to be interviewed by police for that investigation.

Last week, after Newsroom published a text in which Prime Minister Bill English told former Clutha-Southland electorate chairman, Stuart Davie, of the conversation he had had with Mr Barclay about the secret recording, as well as a settlement paid to the electorate's former secretary Glenys Dickson, Mr Barclay said he would be stepping down at the 2017 general election.

The prime minister was also caught up in the scandal after he had to correct statements he made about the events.

At first, he told media he “could not recall” who told him about the secret recording – only to reveal to media four hours later it had in fact been Mr Barclay himself.

He later created more confusion, telling the Nation over the weekend that “It's never been established that the alleged incident around the recording actually occurred."

A day later, however, Mr English said that Mr Barclay had offered to play him the tapes.