Peter Hoskin

Cameron aide resigns over expenses

Has the expenses scandal claimed its first scalp?  Sky are reporting that Andrew MacKay has resigned as David Cameron’s Commons aide after his expense claims revealed, in the words of a Tory spokesman, “an unacceptable situation”.  Questions abound.  Was this a receipt nasty so bad that – unlike others so far –  it demanded an instant resignation?  Has MacKay fallen foul of Cameron’s new rules and demands for Tory MPs, especially that determining that they pay back any dubious claims?  Has he had the whip removed?  I guess we’ll hear more soon.  Watch this space. 

UPDATE: Details of MacKay’s misdemeanour have now emerged.  Here’s how Sky puts it:

“The Press Association says Mr MacKay, who is married to Bromsgrove Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, claimed the full second-home allowance for interest on their joint mortgage for a London home until April this year.

But at the same time his wife also claimed the full annual sum for mortgage interest on a constituency home – meaning they appeared to have two second homes but no main home, sources said.”

Julie Kirkbride also has plenty of questions to answer now.

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