Anne Main
Encyclopedia
Anne Margaret Main is a Conservative Party
politician in Britain
. She was elected at the 2005 general election
as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for St Albans
, defeating the Labour
incumbent Kerry Pollard
, and was re-elected in 2010.
, Wales
. She went to the Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School
in Rookwood Close in Llandaff
, Cardiff. She read English at Swansea University
obtaining a BA
Hons, where she met her first husband, Stephen. She then obtained a PGCE
from Sheffield University
. She moved to the London
area, and taught English and drama at an inner London comprehensive school
.
in Buckinghamshire
, where she still lives in her "main home". She also served on South Bucks
Council from 2001. In May 2005, she was elected as the Member of Parliament for St Albans.
On 13 August 2009, the local St Albans conservative association voted by a large margin (140 to 20 according to some sources) to keep her as its candidate for the forthcoming general election, which had to be held before 3 June 2010. The local party vote was the consequence of a deselection bid, led by the association's chairwoman, in connection with public criticism over her parliamentary expenses.
In the 2010 general election she held on to her seat with an increased majority, despite a 3.75% swing to the Liberal Democrats
.
- her main home being in Beaconsfield
(31 miles from Westminster) and her second home in St Albans
(26 miles from Westminster).
Main was investigated by The Daily Telegraph
in May 2009 for claiming a second home allowance on an apartment where her daughter lived for some of the time, rent free, while she claimed back council tax, which is only applicable to those residences that have no-one living there. On 26 June it became apparent that she would be facing a Parliamentary inquiry into these allegations under John Lyon
, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
, following a formal complaint thought to be from a constituent.
On 4 February 2010 it was reported that Anne Main was ordered to repay £7,100 (being £2,100 wrongly claimed for food, along with an additional £5,000 to reflect the "emotional benefit" she received from having her daughter present at her second home), and to provide a written apology to the committee.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She was elected at the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for St Albans
St Albans (UK Parliament constituency)
St Albans is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Established in 1885, it is a county constituency in Hertfordshire, and elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.From 1554 to 1852 there was a...
, defeating the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
incumbent Kerry Pollard
Kerry Pollard
Kerry Patrick Pollard is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was elected at the 1997 general election as Member of Parliament for St Albans, and held the seat until his defeat at the 2005 general election....
, and was re-elected in 2010.
Early life
Main was born in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. She went to the Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School
Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School
Bishop of Llandaff Church in Wales High School is a Church in Wales, Christian faith comprehensive school in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, Wales...
in Rookwood Close in Llandaff
Llandaff
Llandaff is a district in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales, having been incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Church in Wales Bishop of Llandaff, whose diocese covers the most populous area of South Wales. Much of the district is covered by parkland known as Llandaff...
, Cardiff. She read English at Swansea University
Swansea University
Swansea University is a university located in Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. Swansea University was chartered as University College of Swansea in 1920, as the fourth college of the University of Wales. In 1996, it changed its name to the University of Wales Swansea following structural changes...
obtaining a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
Hons, where she met her first husband, Stephen. She then obtained a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
from Sheffield University
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
. She moved to the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
area, and taught English and drama at an inner London comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
.
Political career
Main's political career began in 1999 when she became a town councillor in BeaconsfieldBeaconsfield
Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within the South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of Charing Cross in Central London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, where she still lives in her "main home". She also served on South Bucks
South Bucks
South Bucks is one of four local government districts in the non-metropolitan county of Buckinghamshire, in South East England.The district was formed on 1 April 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972, by the amalgamation of the area of Beaconsfield Urban District with part of Eton Rural District...
Council from 2001. In May 2005, she was elected as the Member of Parliament for St Albans.
On 13 August 2009, the local St Albans conservative association voted by a large margin (140 to 20 according to some sources) to keep her as its candidate for the forthcoming general election, which had to be held before 3 June 2010. The local party vote was the consequence of a deselection bid, led by the association's chairwoman, in connection with public criticism over her parliamentary expenses.
In the 2010 general election she held on to her seat with an increased majority, despite a 3.75% swing to the Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
.
Expenses controversy
Main's claims for the controversial Additional Cost Allowance (otherwise known as the second home allowance) totalled £22,091 for 2007/8, despite the fact that her constituency is only a short train journey from London. It has been asserted that neither of her homes are in WestminsterPalace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
- her main home being in Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield
Beaconsfield is a market town and civil parish operating as a town council within the South Bucks district in Buckinghamshire, England. It lies northwest of Charing Cross in Central London, and south-east of the county town of Aylesbury...
(31 miles from Westminster) and her second home in St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
(26 miles from Westminster).
Main was investigated by The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
in May 2009 for claiming a second home allowance on an apartment where her daughter lived for some of the time, rent free, while she claimed back council tax, which is only applicable to those residences that have no-one living there. On 26 June it became apparent that she would be facing a Parliamentary inquiry into these allegations under John Lyon
John Lyon (commissioner)
John Lyon, CB, is the current British Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. He commenced his appointment, which was for a period of five years, on 1 January 2008....
, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is an officer of the British House of Commons.He or she is appointed by a Resolution of the House of Commons and works a four-day week.- Tasks :...
, following a formal complaint thought to be from a constituent.
On 4 February 2010 it was reported that Anne Main was ordered to repay £7,100 (being £2,100 wrongly claimed for food, along with an additional £5,000 to reflect the "emotional benefit" she received from having her daughter present at her second home), and to provide a written apology to the committee.