The scandal over expenses claims by British members of parliament claimed a further scalp on Saturday when a former aide to opposition Conservative leader David Cameron said he would quit at the next election.
Andrew MacKay, 59, was heckled by voters on Friday at his constituency in Bracknell, west of London, at a public meeting he called to apologize for claiming expenses that Cameron said were unacceptable.
Mackay resigned nine days ago as Cameron’s senior political adviser after confirming he and his wife, Julie Kirkbride, also a Conservative member of parliament, had claimed a second-home allowance on both their residences.
After the constituency meeting, MacKay said three-quarters of more than 300 people present had backed him but outside the venue he was forcefully contradicted by opponents.
He said he had decided to stand down from parliament following a conversation with Cameron.
He said he wanted to avoid becoming a distraction during a general election, due by June next year and denied he was quitting because of Friday’s hostile reception.
“I would never forgive myself if my candidature distracted voters from the key issues and particularly David’s rousing call for change,” MacKay said.
“I understand why people are angry. I hope my decision to step down goes some way to showing my constituents how sorry I am about my own situation,” he said.
MacKay, who has represented Bracknell for 26 years, was the second member of parliament to announce on Saturday they would quit at the next election.
Former government minister Ian McCartney said he would be standing down because of health problems.
A Labour Party spokeswoman said McCartney’s decision had nothing to do with the expenses row and he had not been forced to stand down.
McCartney’s decision was announced days after he said he had voluntarily repaid £15,000 (24,000US$) in expense claims last year for refurbishing his second home after rules were tightened.
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