Craig Mackinlay

Craig Mackinlay is a British Eurosceptic politician.

Mackinlay grew up in Rainham, Kent, and studied at the University of Birmingham.^[1] A chartered accountant by profession, first became opposed to British membership of the European Union when Britain dropped out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. After hearing Alan Sked, a lecturer at the London School of Economics, speaking on the issue, he made contact. At the 1992 general election, he stood in Gillingham as an independent in support of Sked's Anti-Federalist League, taking 248 votes.^[2]

When the Anti-Federalist League became the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), Mackinlay became Treasurer^[3] and Vice-Chairman. He stood again in Gillingham at the 1997 general election, taking 590 votes.^[4]

In July 1997, Sked resigned the leadership of UKIP, and named Mackinlay as his successor. Mackinlay decided that the only way to keep the party going was to rework its constitution and hold a leadership election. Mackinlay stood in the election against Michael Holmes and Gerald Roberts. Holmes, with the backing of Nigel Farage, easily won, and appointed Mackinlay as deputy leader.^[3]

After the European Parliament election in 1999, Holmes dismissed Mackinlay and party secretary Tony Scholefield at an NEC meeting, which led to an immediate vote of no confidence in Holmes, who agreed to resign the following month. After extensive wrangling, Jeffrey Titford was elected as the new party leader, and Mackinlay stepped down as deputy, but remained on the NEC.^[3]

Mackinlay remained active in UKIP, standing in Totnes at the 2001 general election, at which he took 6.1% of the votes cast, then back in Gillingham in 2005, where he took 2.6%.^[5] He also stood in the 1994, 1999 and 2004 European elections.^[6]

In July 2005, Mackinlay resigned from UKIP and joined the Conservative Party.^[6] He was subsequently elected as a councillor on Medway Borough Council.^[7]

References

1. ^ Craig Mackinlay CV
2. ^ Mark Daniel, Cranks and gadflies, p.11
3. ^ ^{a b c} Mark Daniel, Cranks and gadflies, pp.47–51
4. ^ Vote 2001: Gillingham, BBC News
5. ^ Aristotle: Mackinlay, Craig, Guardian Unlimited
6. ^ ^{a b} CONSERVATIVES:Founding member of the UKIP joins Conservative Party, noticias.info, 15 July 2005
7. ^ Medway Council: Councillor Craig Mackinlay

Party political offices
Preceded by Alan Sked	Acting Leader of the UK Independence Party 1997	Succeeded by Michael Holmes
Preceded by New position	Deputy Leader of the UK Independence Party 1997–2000	Succeeded by Graham Booth

Persondata
Name	Mackinlay, Craig
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death