Police release Bill English audio tape

Police have released audio of an interview with Bill English - in which he recalls a conversation with former MP Todd Barclay about secret recordings.

The release has been made on the day Winston Peters and NZ First hold a meeting to choose between National and Labour, and on a matter Mr Peters repeatedly attacked Mr English over.

Police spoke to Mr English as part of an investigation, started after Mr Barclay's former electorate staff member Glenys Dickson complained Mr Barclay had secretly recorded her private conversations.

In June Mr English's office released a transcript of his police statement in which he tells an officer: "I had a conversation with him regarding Glenys Dickson leaving his office and he said to me that he had recordings of her criticising him ... he said he had just left a dictaphone on."

Police have now released an audio file of Mr English's statement in response to media queries. It matches the transcript released earlier by Mr English's office.

Mr English also tells the police officer he cannot recall what prompted his conversation with Mr Barclay on the recordings. He says he never heard the recordings or was shown the Dictaphone.

Mr English had initially refused to discuss what he told police. Once that position was reversed and Mr English's statement released, Mr Barclay eventually announced he would not be contesting this elec

Police have now released an audio file of English's statement in response to media queries. Photo...
Police have now released an audio file of English's statement in response to media queries. Photo: Supplied

tion.

The new Clutha-Southland MP is National's Hamish Walker. Mr Barclay is now living in London.

Mr Peters repeatedly attacked Mr English over the Barclay controversy, using parliamentary question time to ask Mr English why he sent 450 texts to Dickson in a year, some in the middle of the night.

The NZ First leader said Mr English had been complicit in a cover-up and should resign.

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