MP Craig Mackinlay will stand again in South Thanet despite a probe into election expenses in the constituency in the 2015 campaign.

He was re-selected at a local Conservatives’ meeting, attended by about 60 members, at the Stone Lees Golf Centre in Cliffsend on Friday night.

The vote is believed to have been unanimous.

Mr Mackinlay had first won the seat in 2015, having seen off a challenge to the Tories by Mr Farage.

He told the Mercury that he would fight this campaign on his local record, particularly on regeneration for Ramsgate, and the success of improving traffic in Sandwich with a fall in HGVs there.

He said: “My constituency office has provided an exemplary service to constituents, having dealt with 7,000 residents over the past two years, and responded to 30,000 emails and correspondence.

“On the national level, I was part of the team that delivered Brexit, and through my work on the new Brexit Select Committee am well placed to influence a successful departure from the EU.

“This is the time for stability and strong government, and I hope to be part of that team after June 8.”

Earlier this week the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Kent Police have now passed it a file on allegations concerning Conservative election expenses in South Thanet in 2015.

The CPS will now review the evidence before deciding whether any charges should be brought.

The allegations concern claims that the Conservative party failed to properly report its election expenditure in the campaign in South Thanet.

The Conservative party has denied any wrong-doing and recently the MP Craig Mackinlay reiterated that he believed all the expenses claims made by the party complied with the regulations.

He had earlier said that he did not believe that the investigation would overshadow the Conservative campaign.

In an interview for KMTV’s Paul on Politics show, he said:.“I have done nothing wrong and acted honestly and properly throughout the campaign so no, I’m not concerned at all.”