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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MacKay to stand for reselection | MacKay to stand for reselection |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Tory MP Andrew MacKay has said he will stand for reselection following controversy over his expenses claims. | Tory MP Andrew MacKay has said he will stand for reselection following controversy over his expenses claims. |
| Mr MacKay resigned as an aide to leader David Cameron because he and wife Julie Kirkbride, MP for Bromsgrove, both claimed second home allowances. | Mr MacKay resigned as an aide to leader David Cameron because he and wife Julie Kirkbride, MP for Bromsgrove, both claimed second home allowances. |
| The Bracknell MP said three-quarters of constituents attending a public meeting on Friday evening backed him. | The Bracknell MP said three-quarters of constituents attending a public meeting on Friday evening backed him. |
| But that was disputed outside, with one constituent claiming Mr MacKay had "misrepresented" the meeting. | But that was disputed outside, with one constituent claiming Mr MacKay had "misrepresented" the meeting. |
| 'Ruined constituency' | |
| The constituent said: "The mood of the meeting was in opposition to what you were saying, and what you were doing was in the wrong. You're misrepresenting the mood of the meeting. Why can you not accept that?" | The constituent said: "The mood of the meeting was in opposition to what you were saying, and what you were doing was in the wrong. You're misrepresenting the mood of the meeting. Why can you not accept that?" |
| Mr MacKay replied: "I would just say to you that when somebody like yourself spoke against me about a quarter or less of the audience clapped. When people spoke in favour of me three quarters did." | Mr MacKay replied: "I would just say to you that when somebody like yourself spoke against me about a quarter or less of the audience clapped. When people spoke in favour of me three quarters did." |
| That was followed by several shouts of "rubbish". | That was followed by several shouts of "rubbish". |
| In the meeting, constituent John Piasecki told Mr MacKay: "You did not accept responsibility for your actions." | |
| Retired facilities manager Jean Searle said: "I don't think I can vote Conservative if you're running for office. You've ruined our constituency." | |
| But one woman voiced satisfaction with what he said at the meeting. | |
| "I think that the fact that he came here tonight showed that he is a courageous man. He didn't have to come - it showed that he had integrity, and he's an honourable man," she said. | |
| Ticket requests | Ticket requests |
| As he arrived, Mr MacKay said he wanted to apologise and would be asking for the formal backing of the local party. | As he arrived, Mr MacKay said he wanted to apologise and would be asking for the formal backing of the local party. |
| "This is a meeting for me to say sorry to my constituents, to give them the facts of the case, to talk about the future, but not specifically my future, and also to hear what they have to say," he said. | "This is a meeting for me to say sorry to my constituents, to give them the facts of the case, to talk about the future, but not specifically my future, and also to hear what they have to say," he said. |
| "I have quite separately told my constituency association that I want to be re-selected. I was reselected 18 months ago as the Conservative candidate for this constituency at the next election. | |
| "But I have said that in the light of these developments it is absolutely right that there is a re-selection involving every paid-up member of the Bracknell Conservative Association, and that will be happening in the next month or two." | "But I have said that in the light of these developments it is absolutely right that there is a re-selection involving every paid-up member of the Bracknell Conservative Association, and that will be happening in the next month or two." |
| More than 350 tickets were requested for the meeting at the Kerith Centre in Bracknell. | More than 350 tickets were requested for the meeting at the Kerith Centre in Bracknell. |
| The Conservatives said Mr MacKay had voluntarily submitted his expense claims to party officials and these had revealed "an unacceptable situation that would not stand up to reasonable public scrutiny". | The Conservatives said Mr MacKay had voluntarily submitted his expense claims to party officials and these had revealed "an unacceptable situation that would not stand up to reasonable public scrutiny". |
| Mr MacKay, who has the support of the local party chairman, has apologised but vowed to stand at the next general election. | Mr MacKay, who has the support of the local party chairman, has apologised but vowed to stand at the next general election. |
| Expenses moves | Expenses moves |
| Meanwhile, Totnes Conservative Association said after a meeting it was very disappointed by remarks made by their MP Anthony Steen. | Meanwhile, Totnes Conservative Association said after a meeting it was very disappointed by remarks made by their MP Anthony Steen. |
| Mr Steen had apologised for an interview on BBC Radio 4's World at One in which he said critics of his expenses claims were simply "jealous" of his country house. | Mr Steen had apologised for an interview on BBC Radio 4's World at One in which he said critics of his expenses claims were simply "jealous" of his country house. |
| The local party said it was relieved he took the decision not to stand at the next election and that it was beginning the process of selecting a new candidate. | The local party said it was relieved he took the decision not to stand at the next election and that it was beginning the process of selecting a new candidate. |
| The Daily Telegraph reported he had claimed more than £87,000 over four years for the home. | The Daily Telegraph reported he had claimed more than £87,000 over four years for the home. |
| Labour MP Ian Gibson has been referred to a party panel to decide whether he should be deselected. | Labour MP Ian Gibson has been referred to a party panel to decide whether he should be deselected. |
| The Telegraph said he claimed for a flat in which his daughter lived rent-free. | The Telegraph said he claimed for a flat in which his daughter lived rent-free. |