A FORMER MP and a Ukip campaigner will stand trial over election fraud charges relating to signatures obtained for candidates for last May’s local council elections.

Dr Bob Spink, who served as MP for Castle Point for almost nine years until 2010, and James Parkin, 38, appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday.

The pair did not enter a plea during the scheduled plea and trial preparation hearing - after the court heard lawyers plan to make an application to dismiss the charges.

Both men previously appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court where they indicated they would plead not guilty to the charges.

Judge John Lodge set a trial date of November 13. Proceedings are expected to last for two to three weeks and will take place at Basildon Crown Court.

An application to dismiss the charges is scheduled to be heard on August 30.

The judge said issues of potential jury contamination had already been considered, because people on jury service might have lived in the Castle Point borough, where the alleged offences took place.

He said: “The current position indicated by the presiding judge is that this case will be tried at Basildon.”

Dr Spink, 68, of Downer Road, Benfleet, faces five allegations that on or before April 5 he obtained the genuine signature of an elector for the purposes of nominating a candidate, despite the elector not knowing it was for that purpose.

Parkin, of Castle View Road, Canvey, faces the same five allegations in addition to four charges of supplying a false signature on nomination papers.

Both men were released on bail until the next hearing.

The judge told the pair: “As you now know, a trial will take place in November. The next hearing is August 13. Thank you for your attendance this morning.”

Dr Spink was the Tory MP for Castle Point between 1992 and 1997, and won the seat again at the 2001 election.

He defected to Ukip in 2008, becoming the party’s first MP, but left later that year. He lost his seat in 2010 to Tory Rebecca Harris but later re-joined Ukip.

Yorkshire-born Spink, who has a PhD in economics and management, also stood unsuccessfully for Ukip to become Essex Police and Crime Commissioner - losing out to Tory Roger Hirst.

Parkin served as Ukip’s election agent and also stood in Castle Point’s Cedar Hall ward last May, but was defeated by Tory candidate Liz Wass.