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| Tory MP Mark Reckless defects to Ukip - the second Conservative to do so in a month | Tory MP Mark Reckless defects to Ukip - the second Conservative to do so in a month |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| “Today I am leaving the Conservative party and joining Ukip,” Tory MP Mark Reckless announced today in a second shock defection to the Eurosceptic party in recent weeks. | “Today I am leaving the Conservative party and joining Ukip,” Tory MP Mark Reckless announced today in a second shock defection to the Eurosceptic party in recent weeks. |
| Mr Reckless, the MP for Rochester and Strood, made the announcement that he is quitting the party this afternoon at the Ukip party conference in Doncaster. | Mr Reckless, the MP for Rochester and Strood, made the announcement that he is quitting the party this afternoon at the Ukip party conference in Doncaster. |
| He told a rousing audience that the Conservative leadership was “part of the problem that is holding our country back” and said that the electorate felt “ripped off and lied to”. | He told a rousing audience that the Conservative leadership was “part of the problem that is holding our country back” and said that the electorate felt “ripped off and lied to”. |
| Mr Reckless, who was introduced on to the stage by Nigel Farage, had some of his speech live tweeted by the Ukip official Twitter account. | Mr Reckless, who was introduced on to the stage by Nigel Farage, had some of his speech live tweeted by the Ukip official Twitter account. |
| They quoted him as saying: “Rather than champion the interests of local people, MPs champion their local parties in their constituencies.” | They quoted him as saying: “Rather than champion the interests of local people, MPs champion their local parties in their constituencies.” |
| Another by-election!! @MarkReckless doing the honourable thing and asking his constituents to back him pic.twitter.com/nmyhGf1g9e | Another by-election!! @MarkReckless doing the honourable thing and asking his constituents to back him pic.twitter.com/nmyhGf1g9e |
| Adding: “I made promises to my constituents, such as lower taxes and to leave the EU. They are impossible to keep as a Conservative.” | Adding: “I made promises to my constituents, such as lower taxes and to leave the EU. They are impossible to keep as a Conservative.” |
| He then announced that he would like to ask his constituents their permission for his change of party and would, as such, resign sparking a by-election and then run again under Ukip. | He then announced that he would like to ask his constituents their permission for his change of party and would, as such, resign sparking a by-election and then run again under Ukip. |
| The Conservative party called his defection “illogical”. | The Conservative party called his defection “illogical”. |
| It said on Twitter: “Mark Reckless' decision to join Ukip is completely illogical. He says he wants action on a European referendum, tax and immigration. | It said on Twitter: “Mark Reckless' 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.” |
| A number of Ukip politicians and members immediately congratulated Mr Reckless on social media, including Nigel Farage who posted a picture of them together and said: "A very warm welcome". | A number of Ukip politicians and members immediately congratulated Mr Reckless on social media, including Nigel Farage who posted a picture of them together and said: "A very warm welcome". |
| He also told BBC News: “I am going to do everything I can to support Mark Reckless in that by-election. I shall be down there, I shall knock on doors, I shall do whatever it takes. | |
| “This man has shown huge courage. He has thrown his lot in with us and we will do everything we can to get him elected.” | |
| Michael Dugher, the Labour MP for Barnsley East, said the announcement will be a “hammer blow to Prime Minister David Cameron's already weakened authority”. | |
| Overwhelmed by texts and emails of support. Thank you. If you want to help me bring REAL change, let me know http://t.co/jC628QFkQw | |
| “David Cameron has always pandered to his right, and even they are now deserting him,” he added. “This also underlines that Ukip are a party of Tory people, Tory policies and Tory money.” | |
| Mr Reckless' move, just one month after former Tory MP Douglas Carswell also defected to Ukip, will send reverberations around the Conservative Party. | Mr Reckless' move, just one month after former Tory MP Douglas Carswell also defected to Ukip, will send reverberations around the Conservative Party. |
| Mr Carswell, who was MP for Clacton, also stepped down from his role sparking a by-election which has been scheduled for 9 October. He is running for the same seat under his new party and is odds-on favourite. | Mr Carswell, who was MP for Clacton, also stepped down from his role sparking a by-election which has been scheduled for 9 October. He is running for the same seat under his new party and is odds-on favourite. |
| Following Mr Carswell's defection, Nigel Farage predicted that similar measures would be taken by other Tory and Labour MPs dissatisfied with the impact of "open-door immigration" and said the party was in discussions with a number of politicians. | Following Mr Carswell's defection, Nigel Farage predicted that similar measures would be taken by other Tory and Labour MPs dissatisfied with the impact of "open-door immigration" and said the party was in discussions with a number of politicians. |
| He also said to BBC today: “Of course there are Conservatives I am talking to but there are Labour people too. There are Labour people who are deeply frustrated with Ed Miliband's leadership.” | |
| Dr Mark Hanson, who was the Ukip candidate for Rochester and Strood, has now stepped aside to pave the way for Mr Reckless, Ukip said. Dr Hanson has also been awarded a 'Party Gold Medal' for doing so. | Dr Mark Hanson, who was the Ukip candidate for Rochester and Strood, has now stepped aside to pave the way for Mr Reckless, Ukip said. Dr Hanson has also been awarded a 'Party Gold Medal' for doing so. |
| The shock departure also comes a day before the Conservative party conference kicks off in Birmingham. | |
| The Independent's Political Editor Andrew Grice reported on Thursday that Tory modernisers are attempting to prevent local pacts between Conservatives the Ukip. |