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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UKIP's Mark Reckless to join Conservatives in assembly | UKIP's Mark Reckless to join Conservatives in assembly |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UKIP AM Mark Reckless has confirmed he is joining the Welsh Conservative group in the assembly. | |
| Mr Reckless, who was elected as a regional AM in South Wales East, will sit as an independent but vote with Tory AMs in the Senedd. | |
| The addition of Mr Reckless will make the Welsh Conservative group the second largest in the Senedd. | |
| UKIP said he should stand down as an AM so he can be replaced by the party's next candidate on the regional list. | |
| The Conservatives said they will now be seen as the official opposition to the Welsh Labour-led government. | |
| In a statement, Mr Reckless said he had been "thoroughly impressed by the performance and discipline of Andrew RT Davies and the Welsh Conservative group." | |
| He also said that as prime minister Theresa May's leadership had been "exemplary" and she had been "steadfast in her position to deliver on the wishes of the people of Wales and the United Kingdom". | |
| Mr Davies said Mr Reckless had "proven himself to be a hard-working and dedicated AM who has been an effective representative for the South East Wales region". | |
| "He will now be able to continue this work as part of a strong and united team which will be the official opposition in the Assembly," he added. | |
| Analysis by Rachel Flint, BBC News | Analysis 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. |