Published: Friday, 22nd May, 2009 7:26pm
A sad day for Bracknell
by Rose Harland
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Local Tories react to MacKay's decision to stand down Bracknell Conservatives have been reacting to the news that MP Andrew MacKayis to stand down at the next general election. Borough councillor Alan Ward,who was at last night's (Friday) public meeting and who was leader ofBracknell Forest Council when Mr MacKay was first elected in 1983, saidtonight (Saturday): "I am very saddened. I am sure the decision is entirelyhis own and that nobody else would have been involved. I had a call a littlewhile ago telling me the news."I have known him since he was the prospective parliamentary candidate here,which was then the East Berkshire constituency and although I did not startoff as a flag waver for him, gradually he won my respect by the way he hasbeen so willing to support individuals and organisations in the borough.He is the epitomy of a good constituency MP."I think part of the problem is that some of the people at the meeting lastnight have never seen what it's like to have an MP who is not so good."Mr MacKay has been Bracknell's MP for 26 years and held the seat in 2005with a majority of just over 10,000.He was jeered by some in the 400-strong audience but it is thought it wasthe number of people who said they were Conservatives voters, many of whomhe has helped over the years, who nevertheless said they could not bringthemselves to vote for him again that prompted Mr MacKay to announce thisafternoon that he would stand down.Cllr Ward said: "He was right to say that 25% of that audience wereattacking him and that 75% weren't but I think that 75% weren't reallysaying anything either way. Most of the people called to ask questions wereagainst him. I had my hand up all the time but I was never called and otherpeople who weren't called may have spoken in his favour as well."Bracknell Conservative Association must now find a new, strong parliamentarycandidate as soon as possible before the next general election which must becalled within 12 months.The vacancy will be advertised and a short list drawn up.Cllr Ward said: "The longer you have your candidate in place the liklier itis that they will be known to voters by the time the election is called."It's a sad day for Bracknell, our chances of getting somebody else as goodas Andrew may not be that high."
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Bob
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May 23 09 19:48
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Lets' hope that the Conservative's next candidate actually LIVES in the borough this time!
Dawn
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May 24 09 02:33
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I dont mind where they come from, or where they live, as long as they can represent us and work for us as well, and as hard as Andrew MacKay does.
rm
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May 24 09 12:54
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The post of Dawn shows exactly why this town is in the state it is. NO MP who actually cares about the place only his own pocket. If w ehad a local MP the town centre would not be such a joke. Sad day no - good day yes
Dawn
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May 24 09 15:30
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I wonder if rm can explain what an MP could do about the town centre? As I understand it the new town centre is going ahead only slowly due to the mess that Gordon Brown has put the country in.
Diane
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May 24 09 15:45
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Come on Dawn get it right.
I moved to Bracknell ten years ago and 'a new town centre any minute now' was being announced in the local paper. We're still waiting......
tictac
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May 24 09 22:29
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HA! I have been living here 22 years, and my parents have been living here 31 years and they were promised a new town centre. you don't think we are actually gonna get one do you???
Eric
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May 24 09 23:29
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If all the expenses that the MP and the CONservatve, do nothing, councillors have ripped off us were used properly we culd have had a new town center.
Wee have less bin collections, and coucillors have trousered millions of our money buy selling the council houses. There are thousands of peeple now denied houses, while they all probably live in and expensive bit of London, or rip us off with travel expenses to Somerset.
Most of the councillors are married to each other, and have snouts the the trough just like the Mackays.
Eric Bananaman
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May 25 09 00:00
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Mr Ward, one of the councils famous members, must be going deaf, and senile, or he can't tell the truth either.... the majority of people in the hall were against Mr Mackay, because of his expenses claim, not that he was not a good MP.
We now need to push on for the same transparency from our local councillors, on their expenses claims as us the council tax payer are paying for their jollies and fun, cars and travel.
I for one will be seeking the freedom of information act through the correct channels to see how many of them have taken the people of Bracknell for a ride.... and I do believe there are a fair few of the old funny handshaking old boy network conservative councillors.... We need new blood in the Bracknell area ...this hopefully will start with a new MP and then a more dynamic set of councillors for Bracknell
Andrew McLie
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May 25 09 07:38
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Cheech !!!!
SG
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May 26 09 00:32
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It was not a sad day for Bracknell. It was a good day.
A day when the town rid itself of a greedy, money-grabbing MP.
Richard
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May 27 09 11:06
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I really can't understand the people who support this dishonoured politician ("right honourable"... what a joke).
Both claiming for a 2nd home allowance is exactly the same as a couple of people going out for a meal and both people claiming for the full cost of the meal on expenses. It's an obvious expenses swindle.
The difference in Mackay's case is that it's a long running swindle on an industrial scale, AND it's £140,000 of yours and my money that he's helped himself to.
Supporting him is condoning that immoral behaviour, surely everyone should be condemning this fraudster and demanding all the money back immediately.
diane
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May 29 09 15:22
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I bought the paper yesterday [28th] and unless I'm going blind there wasn't a single comment from our political masters or from any party condenming what's been happening. [I'm not counting the letter page] Insteaad we had treacly sweet tributes to a disgraced MP, and Mr Bettison on the front page sliding into position for a takeover.
I really think the Bracknell News could do better.
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