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UKIP's Nigel Farage tells Mark Reckless 'dishonourable' to quit UKIP's Mark Reckless to join Conservatives in assembly
(about 1 hour later)
Nigel Farage has said it would be "dishonourable" for UKIP AM Mark Reckless to quit the party and vote with the Tories in the Welsh Assembly. UKIP AM Mark Reckless has announced he will join the Welsh Conservative group in the assembly.
Conservative sources say the South Wales East AM has held talks with their group leader Andrew RT Davies. Mr Reckless, who was elected as regional AM in South Wales East, will sit as an independent but will vote with Tory AMs in the Senedd.
It is understood Mr Reckless will sit as an independent AM rather than re-join the Conservative Party. His addition makes the Welsh Conservative Group the second largest in the Senedd.
Ex-UKIP leader Mr Farage claimed he may have been pressurised by MP Douglas Carswell, who quit the party in March. It means the Conservatives will be seen as the official opposition to the Welsh Labour-led government.
There is resistance to re-admitting Mr Reckless to the Conservative Party following his dramatic defection from the Tories to join UKIP in September 2014.
The then-MP fought and won a by-election in his Rochester and Strood seat in November that year, but lost his seat at the May 2015 general election.
He was elected to the assembly in May 2016 as UKIP won their first seats in Cardiff Bay, and currently chairs the climate change, environment and rural affairs committee.
Mr Farage said he had "always liked Mark Reckless, but if he thinks he can just leave after being elected on a list system that is very dishonourable behaviour".
He suggested pressure may have been put on Mr Reckless by Clacton MP Mr Carswell, previously UKIP's only MP, who quit the party in March.
Mr Reckless had worked for his fellow former Conservative MP as a researcher.
"He is clearly close to Douglas Carswell, I guess some kind of pressure's been put on him," Mr Farage said.
UKIP South Wales West assembly member Caroline Jones said Mr Reckless should stand down as an AM.
Because he is a regional AM for South Wales East, elected via a form of proportional representation, rather than a constituency member elected via the first-past-the-post system, a by-election cannot be held if he decides to formally leave UKIP.
The only way he can be replaced as a regional AM is for him to resign from the assembly.
Ms Jones said: "The people of Wales vote you in for the party you represent.
"It is unfair to go to represent something else unless it is subject to the approval of the people who voted for you.
"He should stand down as an assembly member."
She also said she would never join the Conservative assembly group.
BBC Wales understands that an application has been made to the assembly's Presiding Officer Elin Jones for him to become a member of the group for the purposes of assembly business.
BBC Wales has also been told that the decision to accept him as an independent was agreed unanimously by Conservative AMs.
However, there is likely to be opposition within wider Conservative ranks.
Analysis by Rachel Flint, BBC NewsAnalysis by Rachel Flint, BBC News
Back at last year's May elections UKIP won its first seats in the assembly - gaining seven regional seats.Back at last year's May elections UKIP won its first seats in the assembly - gaining seven regional seats.
Since setting foot inside the Senedd the situation has been far from simple for UKIP and the events of the last few days look set to muddy the water even more.Since setting foot inside the Senedd the situation has been far from simple for UKIP and the events of the last few days look set to muddy the water even more.
From day one the group in Cardiff Bay has been plagued by rows and infighting, starting with Neil Hamilton beating the then UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill to become the party's leader in the Senedd.From day one the group in Cardiff Bay has been plagued by rows and infighting, starting with Neil Hamilton beating the then UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill to become the party's leader in the Senedd.
Mr Gill stepped down from the assembly group following a spat about "double-jobbing" over his role as a both an MEP and AM.Mr Gill stepped down from the assembly group following a spat about "double-jobbing" over his role as a both an MEP and AM.
Confusingly, while he is now an independent AM for North Wales, he remains a UKIP MEP.Confusingly, while he is now an independent AM for North Wales, he remains a UKIP MEP.
If Mark Reckless - who wrote the party's manifesto for the 2016 campaign - becomes the second UKIP AM to leave the group to sit as an independent, the party will be down to just five AMs.If Mark Reckless - who wrote the party's manifesto for the 2016 campaign - becomes the second UKIP AM to leave the group to sit as an independent, the party will be down to just five AMs.
There is no rule that would require Mr Reckless to give up his seat and give way to the next UKIP candidate on the regional list.There is no rule that would require Mr Reckless to give up his seat and give way to the next UKIP candidate on the regional list.
The former Tory MP's decision will also have consequences for the makeup of the Senedd.The former Tory MP's decision will also have consequences for the makeup of the Senedd.
If, as expected, he uses his role as an independent to vote with the Conservatives, it effectively makes them the largest opposition group in Cardiff Bay, with 12 votes to Plaid Cymru's 11.If, as expected, he uses his role as an independent to vote with the Conservatives, it effectively makes them the largest opposition group in Cardiff Bay, with 12 votes to Plaid Cymru's 11.