This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46069418

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tory MP Craig Mackinlay denies playing 'fast and loose' Tory MP Anna Soubry 'interviewed over election expenses'
(about 7 hours later)
A Tory MP has denied he played "fast and loose" with election spending rules to win the seat of South Thanet. Ex-minister Anna Soubry was interviewed under caution over expenses in relation to the Conservative Party's campaign "battle bus", a court heard.
Craig Mackinlay told Southwark Crown Court he "disagreed" with an accusation that he and two other defendants "knew exactly what was happening". Ms Soubry gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court where Tory MP Craig Mackinlay is on trial accused of overspending on expenses during the 2015 general election.
Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC asked the MP whether he was "in a state of considerable ignorance" about the financial aspects of his campaign. Mr Mackinlay won the South Thanet seat in Kent from Nigel Farage.
Giving evidence for a third day, Mr Mackinlay replied: "Yes." Earlier in his trial, Mr Mackinlay criticised the use of the battle bus.
MP for Broxtowe, Ms Soubry, said she was disclosing for the first time that she had once been questioned about "fiddling" expenses in relation to the bus visiting her constituency.
"I found that extremely, extremely difficult," she told the court.
"If my electorate had heard that... everyone says, 'no smoke without fire'."
When it was put to her by David McLachlan QC that nothing came of it, she said "nothing whatsoever".
"And rightly so, because we hadn't done anything wrong," she added.
The bus was "of no assistance whatsoever" and was even "a nuisance", she told the court.
She said she was advised to just allow the "battle bus" to come to the constituency as it would "shut them up", and explained that "them" was Conservative HQ.
Previously at his trial, Mr Mackinlay criticised Conservative "battle bus" volunteers who campaigned during his election fight for being a "complete waste of time" and selfishly motivated.
Mr Mackinlay, who was giving evidence for a third day, and denied he played "fast and loose" with election spending rules.
Prosecutor Aftab Jafferjee QC asked the MP whether he was "in a state of considerable ignorance" about the financial aspects of his campaign, to which he replied "yes".
Mr Jafferjee suggested that was not the case, and that Mr Mackinlay kept a "close watch" of what was going on in relation to that side of things.Mr Jafferjee suggested that was not the case, and that Mr Mackinlay kept a "close watch" of what was going on in relation to that side of things.
"That's not true," Mr Mackinlay said."That's not true," Mr Mackinlay said.
In cross-examination, the prosecutor said: "It's a given that UKIP were the threat.
"You were fighting the seat to make sure that the main threat was overcome by you winning."
Mr Mackinlay, an accountant by profession, replied: "The Conservatives needed to win. I was the agent of the Conservatives."
He was asked if high profile visits to South Thanet from figures like then home secretary Theresa May and former chancellor George Osborne had benefitted his campaign.
The 52-year-old MP told jurors: "I don't think they advanced the campaign in any great degree, if you want my honest opinion."
On the former home secretary, Mr Mackinlay said he did not think she even knew what his name was, adding: "It actually took me away from the streets for a few hours."
He said the visits "served no purpose" and they were a feature of campaigning that he had "no choice" in.
Mr Mackinlay, his election agent Nathan Gray and party activist Ms Little deny involvement in false spending returns during the 2015 campaign.
The MP, from Ramsgate, Kent, denies two charges of making a false election expenses declaration under the Representation of the People Act 1983.The MP, from Ramsgate, Kent, denies two charges of making a false election expenses declaration under the Representation of the People Act 1983.
Ms Little, of Ware, Hertfordshire, denies three counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007.Ms Little, of Ware, Hertfordshire, denies three counts of intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007.
Mr Gray, of Hawkhurst, Kent, denies one charge of making a false election expenses declaration.Mr Gray, of Hawkhurst, Kent, denies one charge of making a false election expenses declaration.
Judge Mr Justice Edis has ordered jurors to acquit Mr Gray of a charge of forgery.Judge Mr Justice Edis has ordered jurors to acquit Mr Gray of a charge of forgery.
The trial continues.The trial continues.