MP and associates in court accused of expenses fiddle

A Conservative MP accused of falsely declaring his expenses in the 2015 general election will stand trial in October. South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay, 51, is charged with offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983, alongside campaign director Marion Little, 63, and 29-year-old election agent and Nathan Gray. Mackinlay, from Ramsgate in Kent, denies two counts of knowingly making a false election expenses declaration. The judge, Andrew Edis, set the trial date for 15 October this year. Mackinlay…