But poll rivals claim verdict a whitewash
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TORIES have been told no criminal charges will be brought over the election expenses storm.
The row involved their battlebus campaign spending in the 2015 General Election.
Senior party members last night lashed out at the “witch-hunt” against them.
Police investigations into at least 30 individuals centred on allegations that expenses relating to bus loads of Conservative activists sent to key seats were reported as part of national spending, rather than falling within the “lower constituency limits”.
In March, the party was fined a record £70,000 by the Electoral Commission for “numerous failures” in reporting its expenses for the 2015 General Election, and three by-elections in 2014.
But yesterday the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not enough evidence to prove they were knowingly dishonest.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was “surprised” by the decision, coming after the Electoral Commission found electoral rules were broken.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said: “I think there is certainly a doubt over the Tories about whether they were really playing by the rules at the last election and there’s still some significant questions to answer.”
And Lib-Dem leader Tim Farron said: “The Conservative Party appears to have stayed right-side of the law by the letter of it, but has driven a battlebus and horses right through the spirit of it.” But Tory chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin said the CPS’s decision confirmed the party’s candidates “did nothing wrong”.
He said: “These were politically motivated and unfounded complaints that have wasted police time.”
One file, relating to Thanet South’s Craig Mackinlay, remains under consideration. Mr Mackinlay saw off a determined challenge from then Ukip leader Nigel Farage but the file was submitted to the CPS later than others.