David Mackintosh (politician)

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

Education

David 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 graduating in 2001, Mackintosh worked as a political counsellor in the European Parliament until 2004, before moving to Conservative Campaign Headquarters to work 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 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 Northampton Borough Council – the youngest the council has ever had – from November 2011 until his election to Parliament. In addition to this, he has served as cabinet member for Community Services.^[5]

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

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 resulted in the Arts Council removing accreditation from the Northampton Museums.^[7]

Mackintosh was awarded the title 'Philistine of the Year' by Private Eye magazine for the approving the sale of the statue, which Save Sekhemka Action Group called the "darkest cultural day in [Northampton's] history". ^[8]

Unsecured Council loan to property developer

In November 2015, both the BBC and The Guardian newspaper reported that Howard Grossman, the director of a company responsible for rebuilding Northampton Town's new football 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 admitting to a journalist that he was given the money by Grossman and instructions to pay it to Mackintoshes Parliamentary campaign fund. In September 2013, while Macintosh was still leader, the council provided an unsecured loan to the company which went into administration owing them millions of pounds.^[9][10] The BBC reported that 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 totaling £30,000. (www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-36907625)

References