We are really delighted that the MP for South Thanet, Craig Mackinlay has agreed to head the proposed All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Listed Properties.

Craig has great tenacity which was shown in his fight to defeat the UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, at the recent General Election and he is promising to use this same dedicated approach for Listed Property owners. Craig already has extensive knowledge of our problems with 1500 listed buildings in his South Thanet constituency, including the town of Sandwich which has more listed buildings per head of population than any other town in the UK.

We have already briefed Craig with details of our problems and once we have the full complement of 20 MPs needed to create the APPG we shall start meeting on a regular basis to ensure Westminster is aware of the issues and problems we face.

Craig Mackinlay

Craig was born in Chatham, educated at Rainham Mark Grammar School and then attended Birmingham University to study Zoology and Comparative Physiology.

A strange degree to take some might say, but he returned to his business roots and joined a national firm of Chartered Accountants and took the appropriate professional examinations to become a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, and then more examinations to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. There are only about 1,500 nationwide to be qualified members of both of these professional bodies.

He recently took a further qualification allowing him to conduct probate work more usually associated with Solicitors. He remains in practice as a partner in a Kent firm of Chartered Accountants, with a staff team of 25. He knows what it is to run a business, and through the huge network of clients, know the difficulties and realities of business life on the ground.

Community work

Craig has been a magistrate in Kent for 10 years. He has been a volunteer for the Charity Tax Help for Older People (TOP) covering Kent, which provides help for pensioners, often newly bereaved. He is additionally a trustee on a number of well-known Kent charities, and a previous trustee of The Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust.

He also served as a Councillor in Kent for 8 years.

Interests and family

Craig is married to Kati, a community pharmacist. He is a keen sailor and a regular competitor at Ramsgate week. He was a member of the Round Table organisation for 23 years and was Kent Area Chairman in 2007.