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Mark Reckless defects to UKIP from Tories Mark Reckless defects to UKIP from Tories
(35 minutes later)
Tory MP Mark Reckless has said he is joining UKIP, becoming the second MP from his party to do so in less than a month. Tory MP Mark Reckless has said he is leaving his party to join UKIP, announcing his decision on the eve of the Conservatives' conference.
The Rochester and Strood MP told the UKIP conference in Doncaster he had resigned as an MP, triggering a by-election in his constituency.The Rochester and Strood MP told the UKIP conference in Doncaster he had resigned as an MP, triggering a by-election in his constituency.
Mr Reckless criticised "the insanity of our immigration rules" during his address to the party's conference. He said that, as a Tory, he could not keep a promise to cut immigration.
It comes weeks after Clacton MP Douglas Carswell joined UKIP from the Tories. He is the second Tory MP to defect to UKIP after Clacton MP Douglas Carswell did the same in August.
Mr Carswell said he was standing down as an MP to seek re-election in his constituency for UKIP.Mr Carswell said he was standing down as an MP to seek re-election in his constituency for UKIP.
Appearing on stage at the conference to a rapturous reception, Mr Reckless said: "Today I am leaving the Conservative party and joining UKIP." 'Ripped off'
Appearing on stage at the UKIP conference to a rapturous reception, Mr Reckless said: "Today I am leaving the Conservative party and joining UKIP."
He said he had not taken the decision lightly.He said he had not taken the decision lightly.
Mr Reckless said the Conservative leadership was "part of the problem that is holding our country back".Mr Reckless said the Conservative leadership was "part of the problem that is holding our country back".
He said voters felt "ripped off and lied to". Criticising the three main parties, he said: "People feel ignored, taken for granted, over-taxed, over-regulated, ripped off and lied to."
Best and brightestBest and brightest
On immigration, Mr Reckless said constituents needed to believe that the UK had control over who comes into the country, adding: "At the moment we do not have any sense of that."On immigration, Mr Reckless said constituents needed to believe that the UK had control over who comes into the country, adding: "At the moment we do not have any sense of that."
He said: "Does anyone left or right genuinely support an immigration system where we turn away the best and brightest from our Commonwealth, people with links and family here in order to make room for unskilled immigration from southern and eastern Europe.He said: "Does anyone left or right genuinely support an immigration system where we turn away the best and brightest from our Commonwealth, people with links and family here in order to make room for unskilled immigration from southern and eastern Europe.
"I promise to cut immigration while treating people fairly and humanely. I cannot keep that promise as a Conservative. "I promise to cut immigration while treating people fairly and humanely.
"I can keep it as UKIP." "I cannot keep that promise as a Conservative. I can keep it as UKIP."
In response to the defection, a Conservative party spokesman said: "Mark Reckless's decision to join UKIP is completely illogical. He says he wants action on a European referendum, tax and immigration. A Conservative party spokesman said: "Mark Reckless's decision to join UKIP is completely illogical. He says he wants action on a European referendum, tax and immigration.
"The only party capable of delivering on these issues is the Conservative Party - and a vote for UKIP is a vote for Ed Miliband." "The only party capable of delivering on these issues is the Conservative party - and a vote for UKIP is a vote for Ed Miliband."
'Nightmare scenario''Nightmare scenario'
Mr Reckless won his seat in 2010 with a majority of 9,953 votes over Labour's Teresa Murray.Mr Reckless won his seat in 2010 with a majority of 9,953 votes over Labour's Teresa Murray.
Following the announcement of the latest defection to UKIP, Labour's shadow minister for the cabinet office, Michael Dugher, said: "This is a hammer blow to David Cameron's already weakened authority. Following the announcement of Mr Reckless's decision, Labour's shadow minister for the cabinet office, Michael Dugher, said: "This is a hammer blow to David Cameron's already weakened authority.
"On the eve of his conference we again see that Conservatives' confidence in Cameron is plummeting. David Cameron has always pandered to his right, and even they are now deserting him.""On the eve of his conference we again see that Conservatives' confidence in Cameron is plummeting. David Cameron has always pandered to his right, and even they are now deserting him."
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said it was a "nightmare scenario for the Conservative party", a scene that the Conservative leadership "hoped they would never see".BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said it was a "nightmare scenario for the Conservative party", a scene that the Conservative leadership "hoped they would never see".