Sir Roger Gale, long-serving MP and Conservative candidate for North Thanet, claims it is “disgraceful” that the CPS chose to charge fellow Tory Craig Mackinlay with election overspend offences just days before the election.
The Conservative candidate for South Thanet was charged seven days ago over the allegations of overspending in the 2015 General Election campaign.
Veteran Tory Sir Roger said: “If it had been either two months ago or tomorrow…” which would have been inside the June 11 deadline for charges to be brought.
Sir Roger told The Isle of Thanet News that he believed the timing could have been “political” and that “serious questions” should be asked of the Crown Prosecution Service.
Sir Roger said he thought Craig, who arrived at the count with wife Kati, would retain his seat,
In other count news Green candidate Ed Targett is at the Winter Gardens – celebrating his birthday!
The dad-of-three, who is 35 today, is more used to arriving at the Winter Gardens in readiness for a bout in the boxing ring but has refrained from knocking anybody out tonight.
Report Jane Wenham Jones and Kathy Bailes