Calls grow for Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride to resign
May 25 2009 By Edward Chadwick
Pressure is mounting on Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride to resign after it was revealed that her brother was allowed to live rent-free at her taxpayer-funded home in Worcestershire.
The Conservative member and her husband have already been criticised for both claiming for different second homes – despite sharing properties.
But calls for her to follow Andrew MacKay out of office grew when it was claimed that her 59-year-old brother, Ian Kirkbride, had been listed on the electoral register as living at their home since 2004. He had also registered a business at the property’s address.
Conservative Party leader David Cameron said that Ms Kirkbride had ‘questions to answer’ but said her case was different to that of her husband.
“Julie does live in London, that’s where her son goes to school and she does have a genuine constituency home in Worcestershire,” he said. “She will have to answer those questions but I do think the two cases are quite different.”
Party sources said Ms Kirkbride did not appear to have broken any rules, although her claims would be scrutinised internally, in common with those of all Conservative MPs.
Ms Kirkbride claimed that her brother had stayed at her home to provide childcare and said she could not cope without his help. He has been living at the couple’s
