Andrew MacKay explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
Andrew MacKay
Office:Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Term Start:23 June 1997
Term End:14 September 2001
Leader:William Hague
Preceded:Mo Mowlam
Succeeded:Quentin Davies
Office1:Treasurer of the Household
Term Start1:23 July 1996
Term End1:2 May 1997
Primeminister1:John Major
Preceded1:Greg Knight
Succeeded1:George Mudie
Office2:Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
Term Start2:18 October 1995
Term End2:23 July 1996
Primeminister2:John Major
Preceded2:Timothy Kirkhope
Succeeded2:Derek Conway
Office3:Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
Primeminister3:John Major
Term Start3:27 May 1993
Term End3:17 October 1995
Predecessor3:Greg Knight
Successor3:Michael Bates
Office4:Member of Parliament
for Bracknell
East Berkshire (1983–1997)
Term Start4:10 June 1983
Term End4:12 April 2010
Predecessor4:Constituency created
Successor4:Phillip Lee
Office5:Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Stechford
Term Start5:1 April 1977
Term End5:7 April 1979
Predecessor5:Roy Jenkins
Successor5:Terry Davis
Birth Date:27 August 1949
Birth Place:Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
Nationality:British
Spouse:
    Children:3
    Party:Conservative

    Andrew James MacKay (born 27 August 1949) is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Birmingham Stechford from 1977 to 1979, East Berkshire from 1983 to 1997 and for Bracknell in Berkshire from 1997 to 2010.

    Early life

    MacKay attended Solihull School, an independent school in Solihull, West Midlands. After leaving school he chaired the Solihull Young Conservatives. He has worked as a car salesman, estate agent and company director.

    Parliamentary career

    MacKay first entered parliament in 1977, after taking Birmingham Stechford from Labour at the Birmingham Stechford by-election. He lost the seat at the 1979 general election, but re-entered parliament in 1983 as MP for East Berkshire. He was deputy Chief Whip under John Major, and was Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 1997 to September 2001 during the leadership of William Hague. He was on the backbenches subsequently, but was appointed a Conservative Deputy Chairman in September 2004 with responsibility for candidates, and, after David Cameron's election in November 2005 as Leader of the Conservative Party, MacKay became a Senior Parliamentary/Political Adviser to the new Conservative leader.

    Expenses claims

    See main article: United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal. MacKay and Kirkbride own two homes: one in her constituency; and a flat close to Parliament in Westminster. In a case of so-called "double-dipping," according to The Daily Telegraph, MacKay had used his Additional Costs Allowance to claim more than £1,000 a month in mortgage interest payments on their joint Westminster flat. His wife used her Additional Costs Allowance to claim over £900 a month on paying off the mortgage for their family home near her constituency. This means they effectively had no main home but two second homes – and were using public funds to pay for both of them. During 2008–9, MacKay claimed a total of £23,083 under Additional Costs Allowance, while Kirkbride claimed £22,575. They also claimed for each other's travel costs, with Kirkbride claiming £1,392 to meet spouse travel, while MacKay claimed £408.[1] On 14 May 2009, he resigned from his position as parliamentary aide to Cameron in the wake of the furore over Parliamentary expenses after what was described as an "unacceptable" expenses claim.[2]

    At a public meeting in his constituency on 22 May he had been heckled, and called a "thieving toad" according to The Independent.[3]

    In an interview with Matthew Amroliwala on BBC News the following morning, MacKay apologised for his error of judgement. In what he claimed was an agreed procedure with the Parliamentary Claims office, he had designated their Westminster home as his secondary home, while Kirkbride has designated the Bromsgrove house as her second home. MacKay announced that the procedure had been ongoing for eight or nine years, and that he would be repaying the monies after taking advice from the Conservatives scrutiny committee.

    On 23 May 2009, after a telephone call from Cameron, it was announced that MacKay would stand down at the 2010 general election.[4]

    Personal life

    In 1974 MacKay married Diana Joy Kinchin; they had two children, but divorced in 1996. The following year, MacKay married Julie Kirkbride, a fellow Conservative MP; the couple have a son who attended Westminster School.[5]

    External links

    Audio clips

    Notes and References

    1. News: Andrew Mackay resigns over 'unacceptable' claims: MPs' expenses. Daily Telegraph. 14 May 2009. 14 May 2009. London. Martin. Beckford. Andrew. Porter. https://web.archive.org/web/20090517060051/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5322961/Andrew-MacKay-resigns-over-unacceptable-claims-MPs-expenses.html. 17 May 2009. live.
    2. News: Tory MP quits post over expenses. BBC News. 14 May 2009. 25 April 2010.
    3. News: I have no wish to be represented by a thief. 23 May 2009. 23 May 2009. During the 90-minute discussion, few questions were asked by those present. One constituent told him to resign while another commented: "I've no wish to be represented in the next parliament by a thief." One constituent simply called him a "thieving toad".. The Independent. Crossley. Lucy. Peck. Tom. London. https://web.archive.org/web/20090529162246/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/i-have-no-wish-to-be-represented-by-a-thief-1689834.html. 29 May 2009. live.
    4. Web site: David Cameron forces MP out as grassroots anger mounts. 23 May 2009. The Guardian.
    5. Web site: Julie Kirkbride profile . politics.co.uk . 7 June 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110527184428/http://www.politics.co.uk/mps/party-politics/conservatives/kirkbride-julie-%24451830.htm . 27 May 2011 . dmy .