Conservative MP for South Thanet, Craig Mackinlay, is set to stand trial in May next year as part of the Tory Election Fraud investigation. He has been accused of two counts of knowingly making a false election expenses declaration.
Not only that, but both his campaign director, Marion Little, and election agent, Nathan Gray, are also set to stand trial.
Mackinlay’s campaign director, has been accused of three counts relating to aiding Craig Mackinlay and his election agent, Nathan Gray, who faces one charge of making a false expenses declaration during the 2015 general election.
Tory MP Mackinlay, previously pleaded not guilty in court to these charges, along with his two other members of staff.
All parties strenuously deny all charges involving misusing election expenses, and despite the charges looming over him, the South Thanet MP was re-elected with a majority of 6,800 on June 8th.
Despite an extensive investigation into many figures in the Conservative Party, the CPS previously announced that no criminal charges would be filed against over twenty Conservative MPs over similar offences, but it appears that Mr Mackinlay was the exception.
If convicted, the maximum sentence facing Mackinlay is a year in prison or a fine.
All three defendants were informed that their trial would begin on 14th May 2018, and would last around six weeks.
Evolve Politics has previously covered the #ToryElectionFraud scandal in depth, and will continue to provide ongoing coverage of Mackinlay’s trial in 2018.
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