Politics: Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay charged over election expenses

Conservative candidate for South Thanet accused of false campaign declarations in 2015 campaign against Nigel Farage.

LONDON — Former Conservative MP and current candidate, Craig Mackinlay has been charged with making false declarations of his election expenses.

Mackinlay narrowly beat then UKIP leader Nigel Farage in 2015 to become the MP for South Thanet.

However, Mackinlay was accused of failing to properly declare spending on his campaign over the use of the Conservative battlebus.

Under election rules all spending on local campaigns must be listed separately and be within a set limit.

Now in a statement, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Friday morning that they had authorised charges to be made against Mackinlay and two other individuals working on his campaign.

"On 18 April we received a file of evidence from Kent Police concerning allegations relating to Conservative Party expenditure during the 2015 General Election campaign," Nick Vamos, CPS Head of Special Crime, said.

"We then asked for additional enquiries to be made in advance of the 11 June statutory time limit by when any charges needed to be authorised.

"Those enquiries have now been completed and we have considered the evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

"We have concluded there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to authorise charges against three people.

"Craig Mackinlay, 50, Nathan Gray, 28, and Marion Little, 62, have each been charged with offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 4 July 2017.

"Criminal proceedings have now commenced and it is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceeding."

Mackinlay has been charged with breaching Section 82 of Representation of People Act 1983.

In a statement, a Conservative party spokesperson said they believed the charges would prove to be unfounded.

"The legal authorities have previously cleared Conservative candidates who faced numerous politically motivated and unfoun

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Conservative candidate for South Thanet accused of false campaign declarations in 2015 campaign against Nigel Farage. Read Full Story