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MP's defection a 'betrayal' - Tories MP's defection a 'betrayal' - Tories
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative chairman Grant Shapps has accused Mark Reckless of "betrayal" by defecting to UKIP. Conservative chairman Grant Shapps has accused Mark Reckless of "betrayal" by his defection from the Tories to UKIP.
Mr Shapps told a conference hall packed with party members: "Your trust has been abused. You have been cheated". Mr Shapps told the party conference in Birmingham: "Your trust has been abused. You have been cheated."
Mr Reckless announced he was defecting to UKIP on the eve of the Conservative conference in Birmingham and thereby triggering a by-election. Mr Reckless announced he was defecting to UKIP on the eve of the Conservative conference, triggering a by-election in his Rochester and Strood constituency .
He said it was "impossible" to keep his promise to voters on tax cuts and Europe as a Conservative.He said it was "impossible" to keep his promise to voters on tax cuts and Europe as a Conservative.
David Cameron has called Mr Reckless's defection - which follows a similar move earlier this month by MP Douglas Carswell - "senseless and counter-productive". David Cameron has called Mr Reckless's defection - which follows a similar move earlier this month by MP Douglas Carswell - "senseless and counter-productive" because the Conservatives were the only party that could deliver an EU referendum.
But in his opening speech to the Conservative conference, Mr Shapps went further, telling members: "I share your deep sense of betrayal and anger. We've been repeatedly let down by someone who lied to his constituents and you." Welfare cap
But in his opening speech to the Conservative conference, Mr Shapps went further, telling members: "I share your deep sense of betrayal and anger. We've been repeatedly let down by someone who lied to his constituents and you.
"He lied, lied and lied again.""He lied, lied and lied again."
David Cameron wants to use his week in Birmingham to unveil a series of policies aimed at winning the party an overall majority in May's election.
Chancellor George Osborne has said a Conservative government would cut the maximum level of benefits a household can claim from £26,000 a year to £23,000 to fund an extra three million apprenticeships in the next parliament.
At the same time, unemployed young people aged 18 to 21 would be given six months to find work or training - after which their jobseeker's allowance payments would be withdrawn unless they agreed to take part in "community projects" such as cleaning up local parks.
A further proposal is that most unemployed 18 to 21-year-olds should also be prevented from claiming housing benefit, if the claim is solely being made so that they can leave the parental home.
Mr Cameron also promised help for younger people to get on the housing ladder, saying a Tory government would build 100,000 homes exclusively available to under-40s in England at 20% below market rate.
But the policy announcements have been overshadowed by the defection of Mr Reckless and the resignation of civil society minister Brooks Newmark over newspaper revelations about his private life.