McCully too busy to take seat next to demoted Rich

National MP Murray McCully has yet to consummate his new seating arrangement next to demoted MP Katherine Rich in Parliament this year, but denies his absence signals on-going tensions.

But Mrs Rich did not opt to deny the suggestions yesterday, instead refusing to comment.

Mr McCully was a key player in the failed negotiations between leader Don Brash and Mrs Rich, then the party's welfare spokeswoman, over his Orewa speech.

She was stripped of the portfolio on the day Parliament resumed after refusing to endorse the speech for several days - a public relations debacle for the party.

Both camps have refused to discuss the communication breakdown, but each side privately believes the other acted in bad faith.

As a long-time strategist for the party and key adviser to Dr Brash, Mr McCully came under particular scrutiny. Mrs Rich's removal from the front bench saw her ranking drop from No 4 to No 10 and put her next to the 11th-ranked Mr McCully.

While she was in her new seat just hours after her demotion, Mr McCully has repeatedly failed to appear.

It has sparked speculation about bad blood between the pair.

Mr McCully maintained there was nothing strange about his absence and denied it was in any way connected to the Rich affair.

"If you look at the latter part of last year I was not in the House much at all. I don't have portfolio responsibilities so I don't get used at question time, but I do end up having a range of obligations outside that."

Mr McCully has only two minor portfolios and his primary job in the party is to assist Dr Brash on strategy.