Bracknell MP Andrew MacKay announced today he would stand down at the next general election.

The shamed MP said he had taken the decision this morning after discussing his position with Conservative leader David Cameron.

Mr MacKay denied the heavy barracking he received from constituents at a public meeting last night had anything to do with the decision.

He said that he did not want to be a “distraction” for the Tories going into the next election.

“I understand why people are angry,” the Tory MP said.

“I hope my decision to step down goes some way to showing my constituents how sorry I am about my own situation.”

Mr MacKay was forced to resign as Mr Cameron’s Parliamentary aide earlier this month after it emerged he had been claiming second homes expenses on a property his wife, fellow Tory MP Julie Kirkbride, declared as her main home.

The taxpayer had effectively been subsidising both of their properties.

He sought to quell uproar among his constituents last night, only to be jeered and shouted down, which can be seen exclusively on getbracknell’s video footage.

His decision to quit as an MP came after Mr Cameron telephoned him this morning.

“Following a conversation with David Cameron this morning I have decided to step down as candidate for Bracknell at the next general election,” Mr MacKay said.

“I believe I could be a distraction at a time when he is working to get elected as prime minister with the good working majority necessary to take the tough decisions to turn this country around.

“I would never forgive myself if my candidature distracted voters from the key issues and particularly David's rousing call for change.

“It has been both a privilege and huge fun to represent the people of Bracknell for 26 years.

“My decision is not as a result of last night's meeting - at which I was grateful for the robust support of my local party and many constituents - and I would urge my colleagues to continue to hold their own public meetings.”

Mr MacKay’s expenses arrangements were uncovered by an internal Conservative audit instigated by Mr Cameron.

The MP still intends to appear before the party’s scrutiny panel to discuss the claims and will abide by any decision it makes on how much money he should pay back.

His wife, Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride, is now facing pressure from her own constituents to step down.

Shoppers in her West Midlands constituency were queueing up this afternoon to sign a petition calling for her to quit.

Mr MacKay was visibly uncomfortable when he appeared last night before more than 300 of his constituents in the Kerith Centre, Church Road, who heckled him to resign and pay his expenses back.

The MP briefly apologised and tried to explain his actions before enduring more than an hour of difficult questions.

His claims that three-quarters of the meeting were on his side were flatly contradicted by constituents after the meeting.

Despite being MP for Bracknell, in Berkshire, since 1983, Mr MacKay has never lived in the area.

But he drew down tens of thousands of pounds in allowances by declaring as his second home the London property he shares with Ms Kirkbride.

She declared that as her main residence so that she could claim second homes allowances on their only other property, in Bromsgrove.

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