David_Mackintosh_(politician)

David Mackintosh

David Mackintosh

British Conservative Party politician

For the cricketer, see David Mackintosh (cricketer).

David James Mackintosh (born 2 April 1979) is a British Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Northampton South from the May 2015 general election to the 2017 general election.[1] Prior to his election to Parliament, he worked as a political consultant in the European Parliament and the Conservatives before being elected to the County and Borough councils, rising to become Leader of Northampton Borough Council in 2011.

Quick Facts Member of Parliament for Northampton South, Preceded by ...

Education

Mackintosh was educated at Roade School, a state comprehensive school in Roade in Northamptonshire, followed by Durham University,[2] where he studied Politics.[3]

Political career

After his graduation in 2001, Mackintosh worked as a political counsellor in the European Parliament until 2004, before leaving to assume a post at Conservative Campaign Headquarters as a political consultant to the Conservative Party. He was elected to Northamptonshire County Council for Ecton Brook on 4 June 2009 and to Northampton Borough Council (NBC) for Rectory Farm in 2011. In May 2010, Mackintosh was appointed as Cabinet Member for Strategy, Communications and External Relations. He had previously held the position of Assistant Cabinet Member for Leadership and Strategic Support.[4] He served as leader of NBC – the youngest the council has ever had – from November 2011 until his election to parliament. In addition, he served as cabinet member for Community Services.[5]

Mackintosh was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.[6]

Mackintosh was facing the prospect of being deselected by his local party but he announced he would not stand in the June 2017 general election.[7]

Controversies

Sale of Sekhemka statue

In July 2014, while Leader of Northampton Borough Council, Mackintosh was responsible for the controversial sale of the Sekhemka statue which led to the Arts Council removing accreditation from the Northampton Museums.[8] The Ancient Egyptian statue had been given by the Marquess of Northampton to Northampton Museum around 1870.

Mackintosh was awarded the title "Philistine of the Year" by Private Eye magazine for approving the sale of the statue, which the Save Sekhemka Action Group called the "darkest cultural day in [Northampton's] history".[9]

Unsecured council loan to property developer

When Mackintosh was leader of the borough council, the authority made a £13.5 million loan to Northampton Town Football Club, intended to pay for improvements at the club's Sixfields Stadium, including a new east stand. The project, however, collapsed with £10.25 million owed to the council.[10]

In November 2015, both the BBC and The Guardian reported Howard Grossman, the director of a company responsible for rebuilding Sixfields Stadium, had provided a £6,195 undeclared payment to Mackintosh's election campaign. Three other businessmen with links to Grossman each reportedly made donations of £10,000 to Mackintosh's campaign; one of them told a journalist he was given the money by Grossman and had instructions to pay it to Mackintosh's parliamentary campaign fund. In September 2013, while Mackintosh was still NBC leader, the council provided an unsecured loan to the company, which went into administration owing the NBC millions of pounds.[11][12]

The BBC reported the police had started an investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the loan. On 29 July 2016, Northamptonshire Police confirmed the Electoral Commission had asked them to investigate the three donations totalling £30,000.[13]

On 28 March 2018, the BBC reported that Mackintosh had attended a voluntary interview with police under caution on 26 March 2018. The BBC also reported that whilst attending the interview police officers attended Mackintosh's home for several hours and took items away.[14]

In June 2021, seven people were charged under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 over donations made to the Northampton South Conservative Association in 2014.[15] In August 2021 one defendant was convicted and fined £6,000.[16] In November 2022 two defendants pleaded guilty.[17]

On 23 October 2023, Mackintosh and Grossman went on trial at Warwick Crown Court for not declaring the true source of the donations; the trial was expected to last for six weeks.[18] On 21 November the same year, both Mackintosh and Grossman were acquitted of the offence.[19]

References

  1. [1]
    "Northampton South parliamentary constituency – Election 2015 – BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  2. [2]
    "UK Polling Report – Northampton South". UK Polling Report. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  3. [3]
    "Northamptonshire County Council – David Mackintosh profile". Northamptonshire County Council. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  4. [4]
    "Councillor David Mackintosh". South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP). Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  5. [5]
    Carr, Tim; Dale, Iain; Waller, Robert (25 June 2015). The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2015: Profiles of the New MPs and Analysis of the 2015 General Election Results. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-1849549233.
  6. [6]
    Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  7. [7]
    "Northampton Town loan: MP David Mackintosh to stand down". 27 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  8. [8]
    "Arts Council Announces Date For Review of Northampton Museums Accreditation". Northampton Herald and Post. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  9. [9]
    "Private Eye names Northampton Borough Council leader Philistine of the Year - BBC News". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  10. [10]
    "Northampton Town loan sours MP and party relationship". BBC News. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  11. [11]
    Sturdy, Julian; Precey, Matt (25 November 2015). "MP's party received payment from Northampton Town developer". BBC News. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  12. [12]
    David Conn (25 November 2015). "Northampton loan inquiry widens to include donation to Conservative MP David Mackintosh". Guardian newspapers. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  13. [13]
    "'Hidden payments' to Northampton South MP's fund probed by police". BBC News. 28 July 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  14. [14]
    "Northampton loan: Ex-MP David Mackintosh interviewed by police". BBC News. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2023.
  15. [15]
    Precey, Matt (18 June 2021). "Northampton Town: Seven people charged in missing loan probe". BBC News. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  16. [16]
    "Northampton: Conservative donor admits £10k disguised contribution". BBC News. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  17. [17]
    "Five people appear at Northampton court accused of not revealing source of political donations". Chronicle & Echo. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  18. [18]
    "David Mackintosh: Former Conservative MP on trial over donations". BBC News. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  19. [19]
    Pearcey, Matt; Heath, Martin (21 November 2023). "Ex-Conservative MP David Mackintosh not guilty over election donations". BBC News.
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