Not guilty verdict in MP fraud trial

An MP has been found not guilty of falsifying election expenses in the General Election of 2015.

A jury acquitted South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay after a 10-week trial at Southwark Crown Court, in which he denied any wrongdoing. The verdict means he is cleared to continue as an MP.

The charges followed investigations by the broadcaster Channel 4 into the Conservative party’s election expenses during 2015 and claims the party had breached permitted legal limits on campaign spending by failing to properly report them as local election expenditure.

During the trial, Mr Mackinlay repeatedly denied that he had signed off expenses claims knowing they were wrong.

The MP was charged in June 2017 and faced two allegations of knowingly making a false expenses declaration under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

He was one of three defendants on trial. The two others were his election agent at the time, Nathan Gray, and election campaign director Marion Little.

Little has been found guilty on two counts of “intentionally encouraging or assisting an offence” in relation to the expenses returns. She was acquitted on the third count. Gray was acquitted of falsifying expenses claims.

The allegations centred on whether the Conservative party had exceeded permitted spending limits because the costs of accommodation for party campaigners at the Royal Harbour Hotel in Ramsgate had not been included in the local spending returns.

Little was given two suspended ninemonth prison sentences and ordered to pay £5,000 towards costs.