London, May 29 (Inditop): US President Barack Obama’s British-based brother-in-law has put himself up as a Conservative candidate for the next general election, following the controversy over lawmakers’ expenses. Ian Manners, who married the US president’s sister, is so outraged by the behaviour of his local MP Andrew MacKay that he will challenge the latter’s claim to throw open the doors to anyone.
According to The Telegraph, Manners acted after MacKay was forced to announce that he will stand down after being called a “thieving toad” by some of his constituents in Bracknell, Berkshire.
Manners, a lifelong Conservative voter, but not a political activist, said: “This is not a gimmick. I am determined to stand and, if I’m honest, know I’d do better than most of the current crop. They are an absolute disgrace, and the public has shown it will no longer tolerate their avarice, arrogance and warped belief that they’re a class apart when it comes to following rules.”
The disgraced MacKay and his MP wife, Julie Kirkbride, have claimed a total of 170,000 pounds in expenses for second homes – covering both their properties – over the past four years. She has now stood down from her seat in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.
President Obama was a guest at his sister’s wedding to Manners, 56, who runs a luxury marquee hire business, in 1996.
Manners, a former golfing partner of the President, vowed to emulate his famous in-law’s honesty and use his template for dialogue over rhetoric, especially when trying to bring together people of all races.
He was divorced from Auma Obama Manners, with whom he has a daughter, Akinyi, 11, in 2000.
