Guido has been contacted by constituency members from Andrew MacKay’s local Bracknell Conservative Association. To say they are livid is an understatement. They think he is in denial about his wrong doing and do not accept it was a mere error of judgement – they think it was blatant troughing.

ConservativeHome is polling grassroots feeling on the issue. If a majority of party loyalists give him the thumbs down it will signal real trouble. He may have no option but to consider “retirement”.

Andrew MacKay’s voting record on transparency issues is appalling – hardly surprising in the circumstances:

20 Apr 2007 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — Keep disclosure for MPs’ expenses —  absent
20 Apr 2007 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — Exempt only correspondence — absent
18 May 2007 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — absent
18 May 2007 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill —  absent
18 May 2007 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill —  absent
18 May 2007 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — absent
18 May 2007 Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — absent
3 Jul 2008 MPs’ allowances — External audits and no more furniture — disagree
30 Apr 2009 MPs’ financial interests — absent

His constituents meet on Friday 22, May to decide his fate.