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Nadine Dorries may stand for election as joint Tory-Ukip candidate Nadine Dorries may stand for election as joint Tory-Ukip candidate
(4 months later)
Tory MP Nadine Dorries will speak to her local party about the possibility of standing as a joint Conservative-UK Independence party candidate at the next election.Tory MP Nadine Dorries will speak to her local party about the possibility of standing as a joint Conservative-UK Independence party candidate at the next election.
The maverick backbencher said other Tory Eurosceptics could also seek Ukip's endorsement to prevent Nigel Farage's party standing against them in 2015.The maverick backbencher said other Tory Eurosceptics could also seek Ukip's endorsement to prevent Nigel Farage's party standing against them in 2015.
Dorries, who has only recently had the Tory whip restored after an unauthorised trip to the jungle for I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! said the move was aimed at "healing the rift on the right" to block a Labour return to powerDorries, who has only recently had the Tory whip restored after an unauthorised trip to the jungle for I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! said the move was aimed at "healing the rift on the right" to block a Labour return to power
She told BBC News: "Many of us think it's important that the right unites and it's almost a first step to a rapprochement between the Conservative party and Ukip."She told BBC News: "Many of us think it's important that the right unites and it's almost a first step to a rapprochement between the Conservative party and Ukip."
Such a move would appeal to Tories who "have some synergy" with Ukip on issues like Europe, opposition to gay marriage and support for grammar schools, the Mid Bedfordshire MP said.Such a move would appeal to Tories who "have some synergy" with Ukip on issues like Europe, opposition to gay marriage and support for grammar schools, the Mid Bedfordshire MP said.
"It's really about stopping the Labour party taking power and keeping hold of good Eurosceptic Conservatives in parliament," she added."It's really about stopping the Labour party taking power and keeping hold of good Eurosceptic Conservatives in parliament," she added.
"I am a Conservative and my re-adoption would be by a Conservative party. It's not being adopted by Ukip, it's just seeking Ukip endorsement so that they don't put a candidate up against you at the next election.""I am a Conservative and my re-adoption would be by a Conservative party. It's not being adopted by Ukip, it's just seeking Ukip endorsement so that they don't put a candidate up against you at the next election."
Dorris claimed having two logos on the ballot paper had been made possible by legislation passed by the coalition government, and seeking a Ukip endorsement was "something that I know MPs are looking forward and considering now".Dorris claimed having two logos on the ballot paper had been made possible by legislation passed by the coalition government, and seeking a Ukip endorsement was "something that I know MPs are looking forward and considering now".
She denied the move would jeopardise her position within the Conservative party, insisting she was not encouraging voters to shift their support to Ukip.She denied the move would jeopardise her position within the Conservative party, insisting she was not encouraging voters to shift their support to Ukip.
She said: "I'm not actually saying that people should change their allegiance from Conservative to Ukip, to the contrary actually, it's the opposite.She said: "I'm not actually saying that people should change their allegiance from Conservative to Ukip, to the contrary actually, it's the opposite.
"I'm saying to keep Conservative MPs in parliament and to stop the left, the Labour party, getting back into power in 2015 we need to look at imaginative ways.""I'm saying to keep Conservative MPs in parliament and to stop the left, the Labour party, getting back into power in 2015 we need to look at imaginative ways."
Responding to Dorries's suggestion that candidates could run on a joint Conservative/Ukip ticket, a Conservative party spokesman said: "This is not party policy and it's not going to happen."Responding to Dorries's suggestion that candidates could run on a joint Conservative/Ukip ticket, a Conservative party spokesman said: "This is not party policy and it's not going to happen."
Dorries said that the beliefs of many traditional Tories were "very much Ukip".Dorries said that the beliefs of many traditional Tories were "very much Ukip".
Speaking to the Spectator magazine, she said: "There are members in my association who approached me recently who are confused. They have always been Conservative and will never change their allegiance but feel very much as though they have a huge amount of empathy with Ukip.Speaking to the Spectator magazine, she said: "There are members in my association who approached me recently who are confused. They have always been Conservative and will never change their allegiance but feel very much as though they have a huge amount of empathy with Ukip.
"I feel it would be a travesty if Ukip came in and took the seats off our councillors or indeed me when actually their policies and their beliefs are very much Ukip. Because what we have done, we have thrown clothes off and they have picked them up and put them on.""I feel it would be a travesty if Ukip came in and took the seats off our councillors or indeed me when actually their policies and their beliefs are very much Ukip. Because what we have done, we have thrown clothes off and they have picked them up and put them on."
Dorries also called her party leader to stop what she termed the "chumocracy" of advisers from public school backgrounds at Downing Street.Dorries also called her party leader to stop what she termed the "chumocracy" of advisers from public school backgrounds at Downing Street.
"David Cameron has to show leadership because that's something the other leaders aren't doing. It's where he can make the running: by coming out and showing leadership," she said."David Cameron has to show leadership because that's something the other leaders aren't doing. It's where he can make the running: by coming out and showing leadership," she said.
This would involve "taking control, a grip on Downing Street, trusting people from outside his own inner circle and reaching out to his own backbenchers and his own party, which I think he has already identified as a problem".This would involve "taking control, a grip on Downing Street, trusting people from outside his own inner circle and reaching out to his own backbenchers and his own party, which I think he has already identified as a problem".
The shadow leader of the Commons, Angela Eagle, said: "Any Labour candidate who tried to stand on a joint ticket with Ukip would be auto-excluded from the Labour party - it's as simple as that.The shadow leader of the Commons, Angela Eagle, said: "Any Labour candidate who tried to stand on a joint ticket with Ukip would be auto-excluded from the Labour party - it's as simple as that.
"For David Cameron to give the Conservative whip back to Nadine Dorries and then have her publicly considering standing for Ukip just a week later shows just how weak he is. He can't lead his MPs on Europe - but he's too weak to take action against them as well.""For David Cameron to give the Conservative whip back to Nadine Dorries and then have her publicly considering standing for Ukip just a week later shows just how weak he is. He can't lead his MPs on Europe - but he's too weak to take action against them as well."
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