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| Tory charged over 2015 election expenses... just a week before Britain votes | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay has been charged over his election expenses. He has been under investigation for alleged overspending in the 2015 general election. | Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay has been charged over his election expenses. He has been under investigation for alleged overspending in the 2015 general election. |
| Mackinlay, 50, who is running for South Thanet in the general election on 8 June, has been charged with knowingly making a false declaration of his election expenses, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says. | Mackinlay, 50, who is running for South Thanet in the general election on 8 June, has been charged with knowingly making a false declaration of his election expenses, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says. |
| “We have concluded there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to authorise charges,” the CPS said in a statement. | “We have concluded there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to authorise charges,” the CPS said in a statement. |
| Marion Little, a Tory organizer in the campaign, and Nathan Gray, an election agent, are being charged too, the CPS says. | Marion Little, a Tory organizer in the campaign, and Nathan Gray, an election agent, are being charged too, the CPS says. |
| READ MORE: Tory MPs escape criminal prosecution for alleged election expenses fraud | READ MORE: Tory MPs escape criminal prosecution for alleged election expenses fraud |
| In a statement, a Tory party spokesperson said the charges are unfounded. | In a statement, a Tory party spokesperson said the charges are unfounded. |
| "The legal authorities have previously cleared Conservative candidates who faced numerous politically motivated and unfounded complaints over the Party's national Battlebus campaigning. | "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. | "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. |
| "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." |
| Mackinlay defeated the then UKIP leader Nigel Farage in 2015 ballot. | Mackinlay defeated the then UKIP leader Nigel Farage in 2015 ballot. |
| Police forces have been investigating if some Tory agents should have filed costs for battle bus visits to constituencies under local expenses. | Police forces have been investigating if some Tory agents should have filed costs for battle bus visits to constituencies under local expenses. |
| A battle bus, or campaign bus, is used by political parties to travel to constituencies and spread their messages. | A battle bus, or campaign bus, is used by political parties to travel to constituencies and spread their messages. |
| The Conservative Party said they had been campaigning "across the country" 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" and as a result, associated costs were regarded as national and not local expenditure. |
| Mackinlay has always denied wrongdoing over the allegations. | Mackinlay has always denied wrongdoing over the allegations. |