CPS charges Conservative MP Mackinlay over election expenses offences

Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay and two party workers have been charged over allegedly overspending on expenses in the last general election.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided there was "sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to authorise charges" against Mackinlay -- who is seeking re-election in next week's vote -- Tory party organiser Marion Little and election agent Nathan Gray with offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

The trio will be due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in July to consider the charges, which relate to local expenses filed in the 2015 campaign for the seat of Thanet in Kent.

Several police forces have been investigating if some Conservative party agents should have filed costs for 'battle bus' visits to constituencies under local expenses.

Having received evidence from Kent Police in April concerning allegations relating to Conservative party spending during the 2015 General Election campaign, the CPS has since made additional enquiries, said CPS special crime head Nick Vamos.

"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 proceedings."

The Conservative party, which in March was fined a record £70,000 for breaking election expenses rules, said they had been campaigning "across the country for the return of a Conservative government" and, as a result, associated costs were regarded as national and not local expenditure.

The party insisted its failure to report six figure sums it spent on trying to win three by-elections and the general election was an "administrative error" but the Electoral Commission said there was a "realistic prospect" the money had given the party an advantage.

After the CPS announcement on Friday morning, Conservative Campaign Headquarters said: “The legal authorities have previously cleared Conservative candidates who faced numerous politically motivated and unfounded complaints over the Party’s national battlebus campaigning.

“We continue to believe that this remaining allegation is unfounded. Our candidate has made clear that there was no intention by him or his campaigners to engage in any inappropriate activity. We believe that they have done nothing wrong, and we are confident that this will be proven as the matter progresses."