Burnham-On-Sea’s former MP James Heappey – who is hoping to be re-elected in the General Election on June 8th – has been cleared by the Crown Prosecution Service of any wrong-doing after a year-long investigation into his 2015 election expenses.
The police investigated the Conservative party’s use of a battle bus to campaign in key seats during the 2015 general election after a tabloid newspaper reported on the allegations last year.
Each party is allowed to spend about £15,000 in each constituency. But it was claimed the Conservatives allocated thousands of pounds spent on the battle bus as national spending when it was actually used to re-elect specific MPs.
However, the CPS has ruled there is ‘no case to answer’ in the case of James Heappey.
Mr Heappey told Burnhamn-On-Sea.com: “I am pleased the matter is now resolved after a year long investigation by Avon and Somerset police. Being under investigation has not been pleasant for me, my family and my team but it is right the allegations have been fully examined and the police and CPS have decided there is no case to answer.”
“I have always said we did nothing wrong and, most importantly, had we been required to declare a proportion of the battle bus costs locally, we would have been able to do so comfortably having underspent in the election by over £1,500.”
“I know that my constituents will be as pleased as I am that this matter is now resolved. I look forward to the remainder of the election campaign and hopefully serving on as the Member of Parliament for the Wells Constituency for the next five years.”
