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Former Northampton Borough Council Leader Mary Markham says David Mackintosh is "very distant" from his local party and that he has "undoubtedly damaged" the Conservative party in Northampton over the Cobblers' loan.

In an interview for the Breakfast Show Mrs Markham, who is a member of the local Tory party's executive board and resigned as council leader in October, told Stuart Linnell: "I'm disappointed that David Mackintosh hasn't spoken out to his electorate, hasn't spoken to the local media, hasn't spoken out to the association."

In a statement issued on his behalf, David Mackintosh said he had "never asked or pressured officers to cut corners". He said: "I apologise for the part I played in the granting of the loan to Northampton Town Football Club, and I am sorry that our efforts to support the club ended as they did. I do however refute the suggestion that undue pressure was put on officers to deliver the loan."