Anyone in the eye of a media storm will say that your response can be misinterpreted and your words skewed. So I am grateful to The Times for giving me the opportunity to set out my perspective in my own words.

It is hugely upsetting for me to realise that I have let people down. Any MP will tell you how important the esteem of constituents is to them, so to know that many in Bromsgrove are angry and disappointed is terrible. I am truly sorry for any actions that have broken the trust between me and the people I serve.

I understand why people are concerned about my arrangements, particularly as they involve my family. I realise that this presents some serious questions, and I want to answer those questions as fully and frankly as I can.

Like millions of women I am a mother who works. Like millions of other working mothers I have put in place networks to ensure that my child enjoys security and consistency while I work demanding hours and do the best job I can.

Let me make it clear: I'm not looking for sympathy. It was my choice to combine work as an MP with my life as a wife and mum. I am hugely fortunate to be able to do both, and I always believed that with military planning and organisation I could continue to do both.

The pattern of my week is like any other MP: weekdays in London, weekends in the constituency. The dual home life isn't ideal for any young child. To compensate I have tried to keep my son Angus's care as consistent and comforting as possible.

My brother Ian has been essential to this. Since Angus was born in 2000, Ian has become indispensable as a reliable and flexible carer in my Bromsgrove constituency and London. As a bachelor who lives on investment income, he can give us an incredible amount of help. For most working parents, who ask favours from their family all the time, this is normal. And for my husband Andrew MacKay and me, our son's security and happiness are the most important things.

During the week I rely heavily on my au pair to cover after-school care and babysitting. On Friday afternoon I grab Angus from school and we head up the M40 to Bromsgrove. On occasions I have even dropped Angus with Ian at a motorway exit to make my appointments in time.

By the time I get back, Angus is tucked up in bed and I have the peace of mind of knowing that he is happy. The next morning I can set out to work in the constituency without a nagging conscience - because I know he is safe with Ian.

My brother receives no money; he does it because he loves me and his nephew and wants to be supportive. As any working mother knows, money can't buy that kind of out-of- office-hours childcare. It has to come from a caring family and I have always felt lucky for such support.

Some people have questioned that I allow my brother to spend considerable time living at my home rent-free. I hasten to add that he is not there all the time; he also cares for my elderly mother in Cirencester, where he owns a property.

When he is not looking after Angus, Ian provides free technical and administrative support for which I would otherwise have to bill the taxpayer. He built and manages my website, issues press releases and does other tasks that enable me run an efficient office. He does not run an IT business from my home. The items he bought for me were sourced at the best price on the net and are used entirely for parliamentary duties.

Meanwhile, my sister is employed on a part-time basis. When my full-time assistant has time off to spend with her daughter - a family-friendly arrangement that I agreed years ago - my sister takes care of a number of tasks, primarily constituency correspondence. True, she works remotely, but modern technology means that this makes no difference to her work. I have received many letters telling me how helpful she has been - and I know that she represents good value for money for my constituents.

Another question is being asked about my arrangements. Last year I extended my mortgage by £50,000. The reason is simple. Because of the size of our home in Bromsgrove, Angus had been sharing a bedroom with his uncle. We felt that, as a growing boy, he would soon want his own space, so we remortgaged to build another bedroom. We could have sold the flat and bought a bigger property - at a greater cost to the taxpayer - but decided not to.

I've laid out these details to show my constituents and everyone else why I have involved my family in my professional arrangements. It's not about profit, it's about keeping the family together while being available for my constituents.

But a wider issue gives me great concern. What effect will stories like mine have on mothers who aspire to be MPs? We want Parliament to be more representative and that includes women with school-age children.

Just before this story broke, I spoke to a woman journalist thinking of entering Parliament. Her main concern was the effect it would have on her children. I assured her it was possible to combine an MP's life with being a good mother, as long as she organised her support structure well.

That must continue to be the case - or Parliament risks taking a step backwards.

Julie Kirkbride is Conservative MP for Bromsgrove

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