A Conservative party candidate who is standing for re-election has been charged over allegations of overspending in the 2015 general election campaign.
He stands accused alongside his election agent Nathan Gray and party activist Marion Little.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Police had been investigating whether the Tories broke spending limits over the use of the party's campaign battle bus.
The case hinges on "whether MPs' agents should have filed costs for battle bus visits to constituencies under local expenses" rather than national expenses, says the BBC.
The Electoral Commission outlines guidelines and limits for a party's national campaign spending and local candidate spending, which are separate.
The Conservatives say the claims are "unfounded", arguing that they believe the visits were part of their national campaign.
Nick Vamos, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) head of special crime, says that the CPS first received evidence concerning the allegations from Kent Police in April. As a result, it asked the local force to carry out further enquiries.
"We have concluded there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to authorise charges against three people," he said.
All three will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 4 July.
Mackinlay will keep his spot on the ballot sheet as the Conservative candidate for South Thanet next week as nominations have closed and some postal votes have already been submitted, says The Guardian.
BBC South East Today political editor Helen Catt says Mackinlay would still be able to take his seat if he won, as being charged with a criminal offence does not prevent him from doing so.
Last month the CPS announced that most Tory MPs being investigated over breaches of expenses rules would not face criminal charges.
A Conservative party spokesman said: "Our candidate has made clear that there was no intention by him or his campaigners to engage in any inappropriate activity", adding that there was a "broad consensus" that current election laws are "fragmented, confused and unclear".
-
Is New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s plan for free buses realistic?Talking Points A transit innovation or a costly mistake
-
5 side hustle ideas to supplement your budgetthe explainer Almost two-thirds of Americans are looking to get a second job in the next year
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified filesSpeed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
The new age of book banningThe Explainer How America’s culture wars collided with parents and legislators who want to keep their kids away from ‘dangerous’ ideas
-
Taking the low road: why the SNP is still standing strongTalking Point Party is on track for a fifth consecutive victory in May’s Holyrood election, despite controversies and plummeting support
-
Five policies from the Tory conferenceIn Depth Party leader Kemi Badenoch has laid out the Conservative plan for a potential future government
-
The Liberal Democrats: on the march?Talking Point After winning their highest number of seats in 2024, can the Lib Dems marry ‘stunts’ with a ‘more focused electoral strategy’?
-
Charlie Kirk honored as ‘martyr’ at memorial rallySpeed Read At a service for the slain conservative activist, speakers included President Donald Trump and many top administration officials
-
Can the Lib Dems be a party of government again?Today's Big Question Leader Ed Davey is urged to drop the stunts and present a serious plan for the country
-
Is Andy Burnham making a bid to replace Keir Starmer?Today's Big Question Mayor of Manchester on manoeuvres but faces a number of obstacles before he can even run
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
