Charges have been brought against Conservative parliamentary hopeful Craig Mackinlay in relation to alleged overspending during the 2015 General Election campaign.
The CPS has today released a statement confirming Mr Mackinlay and two staff are to appear in court.
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.
“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.
“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.”
Mr Mackinlay has confirmed that he is not pulling out of this month’s election.
The charges
Craig Mackinlay
- That on 11 June 2015, being a candidate at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, you knowingly made the declaration accompanying the return for the regulated period from 19 December 2014 to 29 March 2015, delivered under Section 81(1) of the Representation of People Act 1983, required by Section 82(1) of the same Act, falsely, contrary to Section 82(6) of the same Act.
- That on 11 June 2015, being a candidate at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, you knowingly made the declaration accompanying the return for the regulated period from 30 March 2015 to 7 May 2015, delivered under Section 81(1) of the Representation of People Act 1983, required by Section 82(1) of the same Act, falsely, contrary to Section 82(6) of the same Act.
Nathan Gray
- That on 11 June 2015, being an election agent at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, you failed to deliver a true return containing a statement of all election expenses in the regulated period from 19 December 2014 to 29 March 2015 as required by Section 81(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, contrary to Section 84 of the same Act.
- That on 11 June 2015, being the election agent at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, you failed to deliver a true return containing a statement of all election expenses in the regulated period from 30 March 2015 to 7 May 2015 as required by Section 81(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, contrary to Section 84 of the same Act.
- That on 11 June 2015, being the election agent at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, you knowingly made the declaration accompanying the return for the regulated period from 30 March 2015 to 7 May 2015, delivered under Section 81(1) of the Representation of People Act 1983, required by Section 82(1) of the same Act, falsely, contrary to Section 82(6) of the same Act.
Marion Little
- That you did aid, abet, counsel and procure Craig Mackinlay, a candidate at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, to knowingly make the declaration accompanying the return for the regulated period from 19 December 2014 to 29 March 2015, delivered under Section 81(1) of the Representation of People Act 1983, required by Section 82(1) of the same Act, falsely, contrary to Section 82(6) of the same Act.
- That you did aid, abet, counsel and procure Craig Mackinlay, a candidate at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, to knowingly make the declaration accompanying the return for the regulated period from 30 March 2015 to 7 May 2015, delivered under Section 81(1) of the Representation of People Act 1983, required by Section 82(1) of the same Act, falsely, contrary to Section 82(6) of the same Act.
- That you did aid, abet, counsel and procure Nathan Gray, an election agent at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, to fail to deliver a true return on 11 June 2015 containing a statement of all election expenses in the regulated period from 19 December 2014 to 29 March 2015 as required by Section 81(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, contrary to Section 84 of the same Act.
- That you did aid, abet, counsel and procure Nathan Gray, an election agent at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, to fail to deliver a true return on 11 June 2015 containing a statement of all election expenses in the regulated period from 30 March 2015 to 7 May 2015 as required by Section 81(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, contrary to Section 84 of the same Act.
- That you did aid, abet, counsel and procure Nathan Gray, an election agent at the UK General Election on 7 May 2015, to knowingly make the declaration accompanying the return for the regulated period from 30 March 2015 to 7 May 2015, delivered under Section 81(1) of the Representation of People Act 1983, required by Section 82(1) of the same Act, falsely, contrary to Section 82(6) of the same Act.