Barclay payment not the first; amounts should be paid back.

20 JUNE 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In addition to other parties using leaders' funds to hush former staff, it appears the Todd Barclay episode is not the only time a National Party leader has used taxpayers' money to prevent legal action in relation to allegations of secret recordings.

According to press conference transcripts from March 2016, then Prime Minister John Key admitted that a part of the settlement amounts relating to Bradley Ambrose was paid for out of the leader's fund.

Jordan Williams, Executive Director of the Taxpayers' Union, said: "Leader's funds are for use by MPs to serve constituents — not to hush former staff or make legal trouble go away."

"The monies used for these secret payments should be paid back. Now that he is leader, Bill English can draw a line in the sand and set a higher standard for the use of taxpayer money."

"Todd Barclay needs to pay it back."

ENDS

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