Jo Coburn
Daily Politics presenter

Jo Coburn
Daily Politics presenter

Helen Catt
Political editor, BBC South East

"It may feel like a curve ball this close to polling day, but in electoral terms the decision to charge Craig Mackinlay means no change.

"Postal ballots have already been sent out, the deadline for withdrawing nominations has passed, so there is no choice for the Conservatives to make, even if they wanted to: Craig Mackinlay will be the party's candidate on the ballot paper in South Thanet.

"If he were to win, he would also be able to take his seat like any other MP; being charged with a criminal offence does not preclude that.

"The Conservative party could always decide to withdraw the whip, leaving him as an independent, but that is unlikely in this case."

Yorkshire Post

On the same day that Jeremy Corbyn has been campaigning in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Post carries articles by both the Labour and Conservative leaders.

Mr Corbyn and Theresa May "reveal their rival visions for Yorkshire" as the paper puts it.

The Labour leader's piece, external talks about "redistributing power and wealth across our nations and regions".

Among Labour's infrastructure plans is "a Crossrail for the North to improve rail links from Merseyside to East Yorkshire".

Theresa May's contribution, external highlights her campaign theme of Brexit.

"Our task over the next five years is to make the most of the talents of every part of the country as we seize the opportunities ahead," she writes.

She also praises the "top-quality produce" of Yorkshire's farmers and pledges to "back them by continuing to commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of the Parliament" as the UK leaves the EU.

BBC News Channel

BBC correspondent Tom Bateman says Jeremy Corbyn's speech in York earlier was "about business and about how Labour plans to borrow to invest".

The party wants to invest in new infrastructure, rail and renewable energy, he says.

Once Mr Corbyn leaves York there will be a period of "prep" for the Labour leader's appearance on the Question Time leaders' special, which is on BBC One at 20:30 BST.

The deadline for naming candidates passed on 11 May and so Craig Mackinlay must remain on the ballot paper listed as the Conservative candidate next Thursday.

The Conservatives have already released a statement saying they believe the “allegation is unfounded” and the case is due to begin in court on 4 July.

Up to 20 other Conservative candidates were cleared of any wrongdoing by the CPS before the close of nominations for this election.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage says the charging of a Conservative candidate over election expenses shows " bad judgement from Theresa May".

He predicts a "straight fight now between UKIP and the Labour Party" for the seat.

Mr Farage, who contested the seat in 2015, adds that he will be making a speech on Saturday in support of UKIP's candidate for the 2017 election.

A full list of candidates for the constituency of Thanet South is available here.

BBC News Channel

Theresa May's decision not to join other G7 European leaders in signing a letter criticising the US withdrawal from the Paris climate deal has provoked "particular anger" from opposition parties, says BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith.

In a phone call, Mrs May told US President Donald Trump of her "disappointment" with his decision and said the UK remained committed to the deal, according to a Downing Street statement.

But "her opponents are saying that is not good enough" and it shows "a marked reluctance to publicly cross swords with Donald Trump", Norman says.

Earlier, Lib Dem candidate and former energy and climate change secretary Sir Ed Davey said the prime minister's "voice would have been a lot stronger if it had been united with other countries".

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has said Jeremy Corbyn has "absolutely 100% refuted" a deal or pact with the pro-independence SNP.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn "doesn't believe they are a progressive party", she told the Today programme.

"There's nothing progressive about trying to break up the United Kingdom."

BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour presenter Jenni Murray says that the Conservatives' plans don't seem to be costed. She asks: where will extra money for the NHS come from if taxes don't do up and corporation tax is cut?

Justine Greening says the Conservatives have made sure public services work better and "are affordable for the public".

She then attacks Labour: "Gordon Brown ran Britain living beyond its means. Jeremy Corbyn would do exactly the same."

Turning to Conservative plans to extend grammar schools in England, the education secretary says she is proud of her comprehensive school education but communities should be given a choice.

Finally, she says she considers education to be vital for the advancement of women.

BBC Radio 4

"What people want to see is a migration system that is under control," Education Secretary Justine Greening tells Woman's Hour, in defence of the Tories' commitment to cut net migration to tens of thousands a year.

The task for a government, she argues, is "making sure we have a sensible transition" from a system in which the UK controls non-EU migration but there is "complete freedom of movement" within the EU.

She also defends plans for social care in England, saying it is "about getting fairness" for people wanting to pass assets on to their children and dealing with social care costs in later life.

If the Conservatives win the election, there will be a green paper - a policy document - and Ms Greening hopes there will be "a cross-party consensus on this".

The Conservatives have responded to the news that Craig Mackinlay has been charged in the row over election expenses.

The party's response reads:

“The legal authorities have previously cleared Conservative candidates who faced numerous politically motivated and unfounded complaints over the Party’s national Battlebus campaigning.

“We continue to believe that this remaining allegation is unfounded. Our candidate has made clear that there was no intention by him or his campaigners to engage in any inappropriate activity. We believe that they have done nothing wrong, and we are confident that this will be proven as the matter progresses.

“The individuals remain innocent unless otherwise proven guilty in a court of law. The press, parties and those on social media should be aware of the provisions of the Contempt of Court Act and the strict liability rules against publishing anything which would prejudice the course of justice.

“There is a broad consensus that election law is fragmented, confused and unclear, with two different sets of legislation, and poor guidance from the Electoral Commission. Conservatives are committed to strengthening electoral law to tackle the real and proven cases of corruption that were exposed in Tower Hamlets in 2015.”

Two other people apart from the Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay have also been charged.

They are Conservative campaigners Nathan Gray, 28, and Marion Little, 62.

BBC Radio 4

Image source, Reuters

Woman's Hour speaks to Education Secretary Justine Greening.

After Amber Rudd represented the Conservatives in Monday's BBC debate, presenter Jenni Murray observes that this is the second time Theresa May "has sent a sub".

Ms Greening says she's happy to be there and adds that Mrs May has been campaigning all over the country and "taking loads of questions" from journalists.

The PM has "really made sure she's been out on the doorstep talking to people", the education secretary adds.

Jenni Murray asks her about rumours that some Tories are considering turning on Mrs May and "hanging her out to dry" if she does not win an increased majority.

Ms Greening says she was "one of Theresa May's proposers" when she ran to be party leader and she is the right person to negotiate Brexit after the election.

Tory candidate for South Thanet, Craig Mackinlay, 50, has been charged with electoral offences after an investigation into 2015 general election campaign expenses, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

He will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 4 July 2017.

Nick Vamos, CPS Head of Special Crime, said:

"On 18 April we received a file of evidence from Kent Police concerning allegations relating to Conservative Party expenditure during the 2015 General Election campaign.

"We then asked for additional enquiries to be made in advance of the 11 June statutory time limit by when any charges needed to be authorised.

"Those enquiries have now been completed and we have considered the evidence in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors."