Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Barclay and arrogance

226 Responses

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  • Mandy S,

    And this just serves to highlight how incredibly important investigative journalism still is in this country. Melanie Reid would have spent so much time and effort gaining the trust of these people. The ex-Mediaworks people, Mel Reid and Newsroom, Paula Penfold and the Stuff Circuit team are out there still doing the hard yards and the important investigative work which eventually, hopefully, holds people to account. And they do this on principle, despite the ever-diminishing rewards and budgets. There has also been amazing work done by younger journos such as Kirsty Johnston, but where is the formalised, professional support to train up other younger press people? It is so precarious for them, and they are far more likely to branded as “activists”, rather than being acknowledged as doing the important methodical work of tracing out the facts.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2011 • 15 posts Report Reply

  • WaterDragon,

    Wheels falling off the trolley now and no mistake. Bill is casting him adrift and Checkpoint is onto the scent. Loud sound of doo-doos hitting wotsits

    Behind you • Since Jul 2011 • 79 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    As Matthew Poole points out on Facebook:

    So much rage over the blatant double-standard the police displayed with Todd Barclay compared with Bradley Ambrose.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Mandy S,

    And this just serves to highlight how incredibly important investigative journalism still is in this country.

    Great comment Mandy, thank you for making it.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    Todd Barclay about to make statement to media.

    Pawn lost, king protected?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Sacha,

    From that latest Newsroom story:

    In a statement today, Police’s Investigations Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Barclay.

    “The investigation is now considered closed. If any new information is brought to the attention of police then that information will be assessed by the investigating officers as to its relevance to this case.”

    This statement is now being questioned by experts.

    When police press charges, the Solicitor-General’s Prosecution Guidelines are used to weigh up the chance of a successful conviction and if there is enough public interest to justify proceedings.

    A senior police source told Newsroom that media reports around the issue suggested there was sufficient evidence, and it was a no-brainer there was immense public interest.

    The source doubted there was political pressure not to prosecute Barclay.

    Let's see the paper-trail around the decision not to prosecute.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    Now if only Labour could stop throwing themselves under the bus this is a gift for them in them in the lead up to elections. In longer term narrative the wheels are falling off National everywhere.

    Perhaps one more swamp Kauri story might help and whatever did happen to that Northland MP….

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Russell, in reply to simon g,

    Nope. Looks like he is going to try to tough it out.

    Pass the popcorn...

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 129 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Russell, in reply to Jason Kemp,

    Now if only Labour could stop throwing themselves under the bus

    Not bloody likely. They'll find a way of letting National off the hook, one way or another.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 129 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp, in reply to Nick Russell,

    A tone deaf government who are walking blindfolded and still no traction from the opposition :)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • simon g,

    I watched Barclay's statement (not in fact a press conference, no questions taken) live on Checkpoint just now. The money shot was the reaction of the reporters (Soper, Audrey Young etc), roughly translated as "You gotta be kidding me!".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report Reply

  • Nick Russell, in reply to Jason Kemp,

    Yeah. One reason the Government has become so utterly tone deaf and arrogant (cf Alfred Ngaro and Nicky Wagner) is because the Opposition is letting them get away with it. It wasn't always like this. Ask Aaron Gilmore.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 129 posts Report Reply

  • Katharine Moody, in reply to Nick Russell,

    Not bloody likely. They’ll find a way of letting National off the hook, one way or another.

    Andrew Little did a remarkably good job in Question Time today in Parliament. The Speaker was prepared - interrupted one of Andrew's supplementaries on it - and Andrew managed to come back with the appropriate re-phrasing for that and a number of further supplementary questions.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    Lets hope some of that comes out in public :)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Brown,

    Wow. I had to comb through The Harold online twice before finding a one-line slug on this story in the side column, which referred only to Barclay's statement.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2013 • 137 posts Report Reply

  • Katharine Moody,

    On the fact that BE first had brain fade (this morning) and then went back and checked (this afternoon) he said this:

    "As a result of the questions this morning, I said that I had made a statement to police and I would go back and check it. I've gone back and checked that statement which was given in March or April last year," he said.

    The problem of course had nothing to do with not actually recalling that it was Todd Barclay himself who had told him that he had made a recording. What Bill English couldn't remember was what he actually told the Police about it - in other words, had he told the whole truth and nothing but the truth - or had he side-stepped?

    And on that matter:

    Oh! What A Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice To Deceive

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    I'm still wondering why Barclay wasn't kicked out a year ago? and why he wasn't kicked out today? he's a nothing, a kid with no real-world experience, in the safest National seat in the country, are there bodies buried in Dipton? does he manage the bags-of-cash drops from the tobacco companies? inherited pictures of Bill and a sheep? anyone got any other ideas?

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Katharine Moody,

    … But With A Lot Of Practice, It Gets Easier To Spread Bullshit.

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Martin Brown,

    I had to comb through The Harold online twice before finding a one-line slug on this story

    They don't take well to being thoroughly scooped by their ex-editor.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Katharine Moody, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    does he manage the bags-of-cash drops from the tobacco companies?

    Well that was my first pick - and that was when he first got picked.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2014 • 798 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Waugh, in reply to Sacha,

    They don't take well to being thoroughly scooped by their ex-editor.

    Hell hath no snark like a newspaper scorned.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    are there bodies buried in Dipton?

    good question

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Media producer Tim Watkin on today's revelations.

    Suddenly, remarkably, English had exposed Barclay as a liar. Not just a one-off liar today but, to the best of English's knowledge, it now seemed as if all the denials Barclay had made in public over the past year had been "misleading".

    When asked then if Barclay had lied, English said: "You'd have to ask him".

    That reply seemed to spell the end for Barclay. The first rule of scandal in government is circle the wagons and protect the Prime Minister. When the PM stops defending you, that usually means you're toast. And if you want things resolved quickly, you make sure you resolve things before the TV news at 6pm.

    So when Todd Barclay called a stand-up for 5:50pm, it was assumed this was it. Barclay was going to resign.

    It seemed National's only choice. But then, he didn't.
    ...
    So why is Barclay hanging in, potentially raining down more damage on his party and leader? Why is [he] being allowed to remain?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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