BROMSGROVE Tory MP Julie Kirkbride is struggling to stay away from the Commons.

She recently gave birth to a son, Angus, and has been doting on him at home. She has also been busy with constituency work.

But she is missing the intrigue of Parliament, says her husband Andrew Mackay, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary.

Miss Kirkbride was once a political correspondent for The Daily Telegraph.

''As a journalist, she wants to know what is going on,'' her husband explains.