MP Craig Mackinlay decides not to seek re-election after recovery from sepsis
Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay, who lost his hands and feet after suffering a life-threatening episode of sepsis, will not seek re-election.
The South Thanet MP only returned to parliament on May 22, the day before the election was called, after eight months of recovery.
Mackinlay said he made his decision after “36 hours of intense soul-searching”.
He becomes the 117th MP to resign before a general election.
- Author, Sam Francisco
- Paper, Political Reporter
-
In a social media post, Mackinlay said: “Although my heart tells me to get back on my feet, with so much unfinished business on local regeneration and national issues that are important to me, my head knows that this is impossible at the moment.”
Mackinlay had to learn to walk using prosthetics after his limbs turned “black” and were amputated after he contracted sepsis last September.
Speaking to the BBC, before his return, he said he wanted to be known as the first “bionic MP”, after having prosthetic legs and hands fitted to him.
His fellow MPs gave him a standing ovation when he returned to Parliament.
Mackinlay told the BBC that the ordeal made him “realize that the important things are family, friends and children”.
His wife Kati, who works as a pharmacist, played a crucial role in recognizing his critical condition and securing his medical care.
Her five-year-old daughter, Olivia, nicknamed one of her prosthetic legs Albert, after the dummy worn by war camp prisoners in the 1950s film Albert RN.
- Before entering Parliament, Mr Mackinlay worked as a chartered accountant.
- Originally a member of the pro-Brexit UK Independence Party, he was elected Conservative MP for South Thanet in 2015.
- He went on to lead the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, which campaigned for a move away from Net Zero policies towards more oil and gas production in the UK to reduce energy costs.
- Until Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the election that, Mr Mackinlay said he planned to fight the next election in his Kent constituency, which would be renamed Thanet East.
The speed of the surprise election campaign meant it would be “difficult to resist the rigors of an all-out election campaign, a campaign I would always want to lead from the front”, he added.
Mackinlay said: “Upon being re-elected, it would be difficult for me to maintain 70-80 hour work weeks, which were the norm before my illness.
I hoped to accelerate my return to the House of Commons in the coming months as my skills improved.
“I face numerous future operations as a result of the severe sepsis I suffered which almost took my life. I have just started the prosthetic journey and have weekly physical and occupational therapy sessions.
“Being elected to the House of Commons is a rare privilege in life.”
Conservative peer Steve Baker paid tribute to Mr Mackinlay as “an absolute hero”.
Visibly upset on BBC Two’s Politics Live, Baker said Mackinlay had “been through absolute hell”.
“I don’t mind openly admitting that I am very thrilled that he is back in parliament and I was happy to be there to hear what he said,” Baker added.
Sepsis is a rare but serious condition that develops when the body’s immune system overreacts to an infection and begins attacking its own tissues and organs.
Symptoms can include severe shortness of breath and slurred speech.
If sepsis is not treated early, it can turn into septic shock and cause organ failure.
