Tory charged over expenses

An East Kent Tory candidate says he has “done nothing wrong” after being charged with with offences relating to expenses incurred at the previous election.

Craig Mackinlay, 50, who is defending the South Thanet seat he won in 2015 will appear in court in July with Nathan Gray, 28, and Marion Little, 62.

Mr Mackinlay said: “My candidature in South Thanet is entirely unaffected and my campaign continues as before. I will not let this decision affect the hard work I do for my constituents.”

“I’ve done nothing wrong and I am confident that this will be made very clear as the matter progresses.” He also questioned the timing of the announcement. Emily Thornberry’s visit to Canterbury on was met with the sound of a busker singing Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are a Changing.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary, who ran Sir Julian closer than any other candidate in his 30 years as MP when she lost in 2001, addressed around 100 Labour supporters in the city centre.

Using the busker’s microphone, she heaped praise on candidate Rosie Duffield.

“How much better a representative could you possibly have in Canterbury?” she said.

“People might say it’s not possible for Canterbury to ever go Labour but the power is in our hands.

“We say there is another way and it doesn’t have to be like this.”

Afterwards, Mrs Thornberry told the Gazette: “Rosie’s approach is absolutely the right sort of politics. She is someone who listens to people.

“I hope we can make a breakthrough because it will make such a difference to the area to have someone who is prepared to really stand up and fight for the area and be a strong alternative voice.”

A beer named after Ms Duffield has been unveiled at Whitstable Labour Club.

Ms Duffield joined Labour supporters on Monday for the launch of the beer, described as a “hoppy ale” with a 3.7% alcohol content.