Former Cameron aide MacKay to quit

By Tim Castle

LONDON (Reuters) - The scandal over expenses claims by MPs claimed a further scalp on Saturday when a former aide to 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 apologise 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 MP, 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."