Trial date for expenses MP

TORY MP Craig Mackinlay is to face trial next year on charges of falsely declaring general election expenses.

Mackinlay, 50, is accused of not reporting certain spending during the 2015 campaign, when he beat UKIP leader Nigel Farage to the South Thanet seat.

He kept the constituency in the June election.

The MP, from Ramsgate, was charged along with campaign director Marion Little, 62, and election agent Nathan Gray, 28.

The trial is set for May.