By Alex Crean, reporter

Speaking Exclusively to Kent Current, Craig Mackinlay, MP for South Thanet, described his relief at being acquitted at Southwark Crown Court after a long investigation into his 2015 election spending.

Mr. Mackinlay was acquitted last December following legal proceedings that started in June 2016, although the trail itself only started in October.

Speaking at length about the 3-month court case, Mr. Mackinlay said, “Being acquitted is a great feeling, it has been a shadow for some time.

“I’m annoyed with the system, I’m annoyed with the electoral commission, I wonder why the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service] decided to proceed with this.”

“In my mind, it can never have passed the public interest test.”

Reflecting upon the court case Mr. Mackinlay said he wouldn’t wish what he has gone through “on his worst enemy”.

The desire to not see another MP go through what he has gone through has inspired Mr. Mackinlay to seek to reform, what is considered by many, himself included, a confusing set of rules around electoral law.

Mr. Mackinlay said, “I think the electoral commission needs to look at election law. When you have the national spend and the local there is a huge grey area.

“As it stands, we would struggle to fight an election under the terms that we recognise.”

Of the three people on trial, Mr. Mackinlay and his agent, Nathan Gray were both acquitted, while a third, Conservative party activist, Marion Little, was found guilty of offenses under the Representation of the People Act (1983). Ms. Little received a 9-month suspended sentence and fined £5,000.

The court found that Mackinlay and Little had signed documents presented to them by Little in good faith and were not aware of wrongdoing.

Craig Mackinlay also gave his reaction to the latest developments in the ongoing Brexit process.