PM has nothing to add to Worth saga

Richard Worth made a 'sensible' decision in ending his parliamentary career, says PM John Key. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister John Key says he does not plan to explain publicly why he lost confidence in Richard Worth as a minister now that he has resigned from Parliament.

"He is no longer a public figure," Mr Key said last night. "He is not answerable to the public in any way, shape or form and on that basis I think it is better for us all to move on. But I stand 100 per cent by my decision that he had lost my confidence."

Asked if he as Prime Minister owed the public an explanation, Mr Key said: "No. The test of whether someone enjoys my confidence is not a legal test and I have never argued that Dr Worth broke any legal test."

Dr Worth resigned as Minister of Internal Affairs almost two weeks ago after a complaint against him by a Korean businesswoman, which the police are investigating.

At the time, Mr Key said that if Dr Worth had not resigned he would have sacked him. But he would not say why he had lost confidence in him in case it contaminated the police investigation.

On Friday, Dr Worth resigned from Parliament as a list MP, insisting he had not committed any crime and saying he was confident he would be cleared of any and all allegations of criminal conduct.

Yesterday, the Prime Minister said he did not believe Dr Worth had been heavied out of the party. Rather, he had taken wide soundings and reached his own conclusion.

"I think the book has closed. The final chapter was signed off by Richard Worth himself.

"He made the decision to end his parliamentary career. I think that was a sensible move."