National letting Worth be for now

Prime Minister John Key has signalled that National is unlikely to move against former Internal Affairs minister Richard Worth while he remains under the shadow of a police investigation.

National Party board members met yesterday and Mr Key briefed them on the situation leading up to Dr Worth being forced out of his ministerial post ahead of news that police were investigating allegations of a sexual offence.

The caucus and the board have the power to suspend and expel MPs.

But Mr Key said there were no decisions made at that meeting and "at this point we are waiting to see whether charges will be laid".

Dr Worth is on two weeks' enforced leave amid controversy over the police investigation and claims by a second woman, a Labour Party member, that he sexually harassed her.

The woman at the centre of the police investigation is a Korean businesswoman who alleges an incident after an official function in Wellington several months ago.

Labour leader Phil Goff is seeking a meeting with Mr Key so the second woman can produce texts backing up her claim of sexually suggestive texts and phone calls from Dr Worth.

Evidence of the woman's claims could tip the scales against Dr Worth and give Mr Key a reason to expel him from the National caucus. The MP initially denied her claims after Mr Goff privately raised them with Mr Key in May.

But Mr Goff has since cast doubt on whether the texts alone would be enough to prove the woman's case, admitting that she deleted some of the most "offensive" ones.

There was a dispute yesterday, meanwhile, over what was said in a private phone call by Mr Goff to Mr Key in May to alert him to the woman's allegations.

Mr Goff said yesterday that the prime minister had confirmed that "rumours of this nature" were what led to Dr Worth being passed over for the Speaker's job.

Mr Goff insisted yesterday there was not "a shadow of a doubt" over what Mr Key said, and he had taken notes.

But Mr Key denied the comments. "I said to him there are always rumours about members of Parliament but it wasn't specific and there wasn't a discussion about the Speaker."

Dr Worth has made just one public statement since his resignation, insisting that he did nothing unlawful, and vowing to defend himself.

It suggests that he has no intention of quitting, despite Mr Key effectively urging him to resign by suggesting he consider his future in Parliament.

- © Fairfax NZ News