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| South Thanet Tory candidate Craig Mackinlay charged over expenses | South Thanet Tory candidate Craig Mackinlay charged over expenses |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Conservative candidate for South Thanet has been charged for alleged overspending in the 2015 general election campaign. | The Conservative candidate for South Thanet has been charged for alleged overspending in the 2015 general election campaign. |
| Craig Mackinlay, who is running again on 8 June, stands accused under the Representation of the People Act 1983, alongside his election agent Nathan Gray and party activist Marion Little. | Craig Mackinlay, who is running again on 8 June, stands accused under the Representation of the People Act 1983, alongside his election agent Nathan Gray and party activist Marion Little. |
| The Conservative Party said the allegations were unfounded. | The Conservative Party said the allegations were unfounded. |
| Other Tory candidates were investigated but no charges were brought. | Other Tory candidates were investigated but no charges were brought. |
| Police forces have been investigating whether MPs' agents should have filed costs for battle bus visits to constituencies under local expenses. | Police forces have been investigating whether MPs' agents should have filed costs for battle bus visits to constituencies under local expenses. |
| The Conservative Party 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 Conservative Party 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. |
| Craig Mackinlay, 50, his agent Nathan Gray, 28, and Marion Little, a party activist, 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. | Craig Mackinlay, 50, his agent Nathan Gray, 28, and Marion Little, a party activist, 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. |
| Can Craig Mackinlay still stand? | Can Craig Mackinlay still stand? |
| Analysis by Helen Catt - BBC South East Today Political Editor | Analysis by Helen Catt - BBC South East Today Political Editor |
| It may feel like a curve ball this close to polling day, but in electoral terms the decision to charge Craig Mackinlay means no change. | It may feel like a curve ball this close to polling day, but in electoral terms the decision to charge Craig Mackinlay means no change. |
| Postal ballots have already been sent out, the deadline for withdrawing nominations has passed, so there is no choice for the Conservatives to make, even if they wanted to: Craig Mackinlay will be the party's candidate on the ballot paper in South Thanet. | Postal ballots have already been sent out, the deadline for withdrawing nominations has passed, so there is no choice for the Conservatives to make, even if they wanted to: Craig Mackinlay will be the party's candidate on the ballot paper in South Thanet. |
| If he were to win, he would also be able to take his seat like any other MP; being charged with a criminal offence does not preclude that. | If he were to win, he would also be able to take his seat like any other MP; being charged with a criminal offence does not preclude that. |
| The Conservative party could always decide to withdraw the whip, leaving him as an Independent, but that is unlikely in this case. | The Conservative party could always decide to withdraw the whip, leaving him as an Independent, but that is unlikely in this case. |
| Nick Vamos, CPS head of special crime, said: "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: "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. |
| "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. | "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. | "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." | "We have concluded there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to authorise charges against three people." |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said: "The legal authorities have previously cleared Conservative candidates who faced numerous politically motivated and unfounded complaints over the Party's national Battlebus campaigning. | A Conservative Party spokesman 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 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. | "We believe that they have done nothing wrong, and we are confident that this will be proven as the matter progresses. |
| "The individuals remain innocent unless otherwise proven guilty in a court of law." | "The individuals remain innocent unless otherwise proven guilty in a court of law." |
| Election laws were confused and unclear and the party was committed to strengthening future electoral laws, the statement added. | Election laws were confused and unclear and the party was committed to strengthening future electoral laws, the statement added. |