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David Cameron accused by Ukip defector of breaking promises to voters Ukip defector ‘lied and lied and lied’, say senior Conservatives
(35 minutes later)
David Cameron has admitted the start of Conservative party conference has not been ideal, as he came under attack from Mark Reckless, the minister who defected to Ukip on Saturday, for breaking his promises on the economy and political reform. The Conservatives have launched a furious attack on their former MP Mark Reckless for defecting to Ukip, with the party chairman, Grant Shapps, saying he “lied and lied and lied”.
The senior Conservative used his opening speech at the Tory conference in Birmingham to criticise Reckless, telling party members they had all been betrayed by the actions of the former Braintree MP.
He also released a voicemail of Reckless saying he would attend the conference just 48 hours before appearing on stage for Ukip.
David Cameron, the prime minister, admitted the start the conference had not been ideal, as he came under attack from Reckless, who accused him of breaking his promises on the economy and political reform.
Conservative ministers attempted to downplay the defection, saying Reckless had long been “adrift” from the party.Conservative ministers attempted to downplay the defection, saying Reckless had long been “adrift” from the party.
They hit the airwaves on the first day of the conference in Birmingham to argue that a vote for Ukip would make a Labour win more likely and reduce the chance of a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU. They hit the airwaves on the first day of the annual conference in Birmingham to argue that a vote for Ukip would make a Labour win more likely and reduce the chance of a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.
The Tory party machine also swung into attack mode as it tried to undermine Reckless’s credibility by releasing a voicemail he left for the Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, saying he would attend conference this weekend.
However, coverage of Reckless’s decision dominated the Sunday newspapers, along with the scandal over a Tory minister being caught in a “sexting” sting.However, coverage of Reckless’s decision dominated the Sunday newspapers, along with the scandal over a Tory minister being caught in a “sexting” sting.
The new Ukip politician then continued to overshadow the conference as he gave a round of interviews, saying he chose to leave the Conservatives because the prime minister was not keeping the promises he made to voters.The new Ukip politician then continued to overshadow the conference as he gave a round of interviews, saying he chose to leave the Conservatives because the prime minister was not keeping the promises he made to voters.
Resigning and standing again in an “incredibly unpredictable byelection” was a sign that it was a principled decision, he said.Resigning and standing again in an “incredibly unpredictable byelection” was a sign that it was a principled decision, he said.
“I want to keep my word to my voters here and that’s why I’ve done what I’ve done,” Reckless told the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme.“I want to keep my word to my voters here and that’s why I’ve done what I’ve done,” Reckless told the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme.
“I believe Ukip are the agents of change and I’m going to give my voters a say in the byelection.”“I believe Ukip are the agents of change and I’m going to give my voters a say in the byelection.”
Asked why he had left a voicemail for Shapps on Friday saying he would be coming to Conservative party conference, Reckless said he had sounded “hesitant” on the call.Asked why he had left a voicemail for Shapps on Friday saying he would be coming to Conservative party conference, Reckless said he had sounded “hesitant” on the call.
“You can’t discuss these things in advance, you have to make a decision, and you have to leave at a particular point in time,” he said. “I decided my constituents’ interests and the future of this country are better served by Ukip than they are by the Conservative party under David Cameron. I made a lot of promises, on the deficit, on political reform. The prime minister isn’t keeping those promises, I want to do so, and that’s why I’m moving to Ukip, the agents of change, so I can keep these promises.”“You can’t discuss these things in advance, you have to make a decision, and you have to leave at a particular point in time,” he said. “I decided my constituents’ interests and the future of this country are better served by Ukip than they are by the Conservative party under David Cameron. I made a lot of promises, on the deficit, on political reform. The prime minister isn’t keeping those promises, I want to do so, and that’s why I’m moving to Ukip, the agents of change, so I can keep these promises.”
Reckless had previously repeatedly said he was not about to join Douglas Carswell, his fellow Tory-to-Ukip defector, and argued that a vote for Ukip would stop a Conservative victory.Reckless had previously repeatedly said he was not about to join Douglas Carswell, his fellow Tory-to-Ukip defector, and argued that a vote for Ukip would stop a Conservative victory.
However, Reckless said it was a recent decision, and that was no longer his goal.However, Reckless said it was a recent decision, and that was no longer his goal.
“My ambition is not a Tory victory,” he said. “We made all these promises in 2010 as Conservatives and they’ve been broken. We hear now from David Cameron about how he wants English votes for English laws.“My ambition is not a Tory victory,” he said. “We made all these promises in 2010 as Conservatives and they’ve been broken. We hear now from David Cameron about how he wants English votes for English laws.
“We’ve done absolutely nothing about it. It’s just not credible to say you’re going to do these things. They’ve committed to giving every Scot £1,600 a year indefinitely. If you want to stand up for the English taxpayer, to deal with the deficit, then frankly Ukip are the party who are going to do that, David Cameron’s had his chance, he hasn’t kept his promises, I want to keep mine and that’s why I’m moving to Ukip.”“We’ve done absolutely nothing about it. It’s just not credible to say you’re going to do these things. They’ve committed to giving every Scot £1,600 a year indefinitely. If you want to stand up for the English taxpayer, to deal with the deficit, then frankly Ukip are the party who are going to do that, David Cameron’s had his chance, he hasn’t kept his promises, I want to keep mine and that’s why I’m moving to Ukip.”
Reckless made the switch to Ukip on the second day of the anti-EU party’s conference in Doncaster, which ensured a maximum impact on the first day of the Conservatives’ event.Reckless made the switch to Ukip on the second day of the anti-EU party’s conference in Doncaster, which ensured a maximum impact on the first day of the Conservatives’ event.
Cameron described it as “not an ideal start” but said it would not derail the Conservatives’ fundamental message about fixing the economy.Cameron described it as “not an ideal start” but said it would not derail the Conservatives’ fundamental message about fixing the economy.
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, said there was no logic to the defection as only the Conservatives could deliver an EU referendum. He said Reckless had been “adrift” from the government for some time. Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, said there was no logic to the defection as only the Conservatives could deliver an EU referendum. He said Reckless had been adrift from the government for some time.