Saturday, 25th July 2009
'DISILLUSIONED' MACKINLAY TO QUIT COMMONS
Labour MP and longstanding Gibraltar stalwart Andrew MacKinlay, 60 has said he is "disillusioned with Parliament" and is to step down at the next election, party sources confirmed.
Mr MacKinlay has told friends of his decision and last night outlined his reasons to constituency officials in Thurrock, Essex, insiders said.
Tory blogger Iain Dale, who has known the MP since the early 1990s, said Mr MacKinlay had informed him of his decision on Thursday.
"It's got nothing to do with expenses but all to do with the fact that he is physically exhausted and, I think, very disillusioned with the way Parliament is heading," Mr Dale wrote.
He has been an MP since 1992 and a member of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee since 1997.