Conservative MP Mark Reckless Defects To UKIP
The backbencher tells Sky News he wants a "straight in-out referendum" on Europe as he becomes the second Tory MP to jump ship.
Saturday 27 September 2014 14:45, UK
The Conservative MP for Rochester and Strood, Mark Reckless, has announced he is defecting to UKIP.
The Tory backbencher made the announcement to rapturous applause from delegates at the UKIP party conference in Doncaster.
He said he would resign his seat in Parliament, triggering a by-election in which he intended to stand for the party.
The announcement came ahead of a second blow to the Conservative Party in the shape of allegations published in a Sunday newspaper implicating a senior Tory MP.
over allegations in the Sunday Mirror involving the exchange of an explicit image.
The two announcements are set to overshadow the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham which gets under way today.
In his speech to UKIP delegates, Mr Reckless cited direct failings within the Conservative Party leadership as contributing factors in his decision to defect.
"We all know the problem of British politics. People feel disconnected from Westminster," he said.
"But disconnected is too mild a word. People feel ignored, taken for granted, overtaxed, over regulated, ripped off and lied to."
He said he promised voters in the last election that he could cut immigration, cut the deficit, decentralise power, have a more open and accountable politics and "above all to help get our country out of the European Union".
He said those were promises he could not keep as a Conservative, but could as a member of UKIP.
The surprise announcement is the second Tory defection in recent weeks.
Clacton MP Douglas Carswell said he would contest his seat for UKIP in a by-election on October 9.
Shortly after his speech Mr Reckless told Sky News he wanted a "straight in-out referendum" on Europe, which he does not think the Conservative Party will deliver.
He said the Prime Minister is offering a vote on EU membership on "rigged terms," based on a "bogus renegotiation followed by a loaded referendum".
"The more UKIP MPs there are, the better the chance of our getting a fair, straight referendum where we have the best possible chance of restoring our nation's independence," he said.
He would not be drawn on whether other Conservative MPs are planning to follow suit and defect.
Conservative sources have told Sky News they are surprised by the announcement given that, just a month ago, Mark Reckless said another defection would put an EU referendum at risk.
A Conservative spokesman said: "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 (Labour leader) Ed Miliband."
Within the party, MPs have reacted with horror to the latest defection.
Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, said: "Nothing I can say right now would be becoming of a lady.
"I'm so angry. He looked me in eye and promised he wasn't go to defect."
But a gleeful Nigel Farage said he believed people "rather like the odd surprise".
"I'm delighted," the UKIP leader said.
"We've got some significant political figures joining UKIP because they see us as being the agents for change."
Meanwhile Labour's Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Dugher MP, said the latest defection would be a "hammer blow" to David Cameron.
"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.
"This also underlines that UKIP are a party of Tory people, Tory policies and Tory money.
"It is clearer than ever that only Labour has a plan to make everyday working people across the country better off."