Respected Andrew MacKinlay to step down

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Respected Labour MP for Thurrock Andrew MacKinlay is to step down from Parliament at the next election because he is “pysically and mentally burned out.”

Iain Dale had the story first after speaking at length with the MP yesterday, and said MacKinlay has been a “fine parliamentarian…the fact that he has so clearly fallen out of love with parliament should set off a few alarms.”

Regarding his decision to step down Mackinlay himself says “I need to recharge my batteries. Life is short”.

Dale has written a long and warm piece about Andrew MacKinlay and the hard work done by many of his parliamentary colleagues.