Key silent on why he lost confidence in MP

Prime Minister John Key. Photo / Dean Purcell

Prime Minister John Key dug his heels in yesterday and refused to say why he lost confidence in former MP and minister Richard Worth several weeks ago.

And he is adamant that he won't reveal it in the future.

He said that as Dr Worth is now a member of the public and not a member of Parliament - he resigned last Friday - there were no grounds to say why.

"Had he stayed as a member of Parliament, you would have had a right to go over the entrails of that because he was a member of Parliament," Mr Key told journalists at his post-Cabinet press conference.

"He lost my confidence and that is the end of the matter as far as I am concerned.

"I am not going to comment on the details. He lost my confidence and that is enough. ... I don't think I need to explain."

Dr Worth was now not a member of the National caucus or part of the Executive, "and on that basis that is the chapter closed to that story and I am moving on".

Almost two weeks ago, after the sudden announcement of Dr Worth's resignation as a minister, Mr Key said that he would have sacked him had he not resigned.

"His conduct does not befit a minister, and I will not have him in my Cabinet," Mr Key said at the time.

He also said then that he would probably reveal why he had lost confidence in him but he did not want to contaminate a police investigation. He has clearly changed his mind about giving the reason.

The investigation was sparked by a complaint of a sexual nature against Dr Worth by a Korean businesswoman in Auckland.

The Prime Minister said the Cabinet Manual did not require him to give a reason.

He said that his loss of confidence "was nothing of a legal nature". Mr Key also believed the public would put their trust in his judgment.

"I think the New Zealand public do trust me to be, I think, a fair but reasonable person.

"When I saw information I felt I needed to act on, I acted.

"I am not going any further than to say he lost my confidence and I believe through the Richard Worth saga that I acted fairly, but firmly and swiftly."

Dr Worth was also accused by Labour leader Phil Goff of having made unwanted advances to a Labour activist - Neelam Choudary - after offering her two jobs.

Mr Key said he had not looked into the appointments Dr Worth made in his seven months as a minister and did not intend to.