Tory Mp Carswell Switches To Ukip

[Jomlett]

He will stand down as MP for Clacton to seek re-election in a by-election.

If he wins the by-election he will be the first UKIP MP to take a seat in Westminster. Don't go and upset Nigel, now!

BBC News - Tory MP Carswell switches to UKIP http://bbc.in/VPpz8Y

[237SJ]

And he did a good job of rubbishing the Tories in the process

[mikey4444]

First one to fall on his sword for Nigel !

Be afraid dave, be very afraid !

[janbee]

The first but not the last...

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2736598/Tory-MP-Douglas-Carswell-defects-UKIP-resigns-Parliament-spark-crunch-Essex-byelection.html

[mikey4444]

According to this, UKIP didn't even put a candidate up in Clacton, in 2010....
I wonder why ?

[mikey4444]

A more balanced report ::::

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28967904

[VHG]

Interesting that he is MP for Clacton which has a huge immigrant / asylum problem.

Maybe him seeing the immigration / asylum problems first hand caused by being in the EU has made him switch to a party that may actually DO something about our membership of the EU.

When I voted for the Common Market back in the seventies is was for a closer tie to France, Germany etc, after the second world war.

It was not too allow unrestricted immigration from countries such as Bulgaria and Romania.

The quicker we get out the better.

[Gromit]

The Tories have a 12,000 majority.

Can't see UKIP winning the seat in a million years.

A distant third is my prediction.

[anotheoldgit]

mikey444

A more Independent report ::::

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/douglas-carswell-defects-to-ukip-from-conservative-party-9696382.html

[mikey4444]

Whichever website we use AOG, it can't conceal the humiliating blow that this must be to dave. I agree with Gromit...its would be a brave person that put money on Carswell to win a by-election for UKIP. But its going to be fun watching this play out though ...I can't wait !

[Gromit]

He is UKIP's first MP...

...And possibly its last.

I wonder how UKIP will blur the fact that they do not have a manifesto?

[mikey4444]

Perhaps Farage can use the 2010 manifesto...somebody must have one in a drawer somewhere ! You know the one...the one that Farage said was "complete rubbish" !

[youngmafbog]

Nothing would please me more than to see him win, if only to see Mickeys reaction.

Despite previous election results this is an election very near the end of a term. Just ripe for bloodying Camerons nose.

Cameron has been playing a dangerous game, many of us suspected he was talking the talk and had not intention of walking the walk. Appears we could be right.

Yes Mickey, Dave had better be careful, but so had Ed. It will be even more interesting to see his reaction. By election are a fickle thing and he too could end up with egg on his face if he says the wrong thing.

Essex is generally Mondeo man, he who makes or breaks a Government.

BTW a BBC report is never independent.

[grumpy01]

The whole question of whether Mr Carswell can win as a UKIP candidate at the by-election centres around whether his majority is because he is popular or people in Clacton are Conservative and would vote for whoever the candidate is.As Mikey says it could be very interesting,especially if one or two more tories jump ship before the by-election.

[Sqad]

I am not sure that I understand his motive.

If he does not take the Clacton seat for UKIP........he is out of Politics.

High risk strategy.

[ChillDoubt]

Perhaps Farage can use the 2010 manifesto...somebody must have one in a drawer somewhere ! You know the one...the one that Farage said was "complete rubbish" !
----------------
Indeed, a rare beast. An honest, straight-talking politician.

[lindapalmara]

At least he's honourable enough to stand down and not finish his term under another flag as others do just to keep drawing the salary.

[Gromit]

Just looked a little bit closer at the Clacton seat and it might not be as cut and dried Conservative as I thought.

It is a new seat and comprises of what was previously the Harwich constituency. In 2001, Harwich was Labour. In 2005, Carswell won it for the Conservatives but by only 902 votes. In 2010, Carswell won the new constituency by 12,000 votes.

If Carswell splits the Tory vote, it could let Labour back in.

[mikey4444]

Chilli...what a pity then that Farage didn't admit to his Manifesto being rubbish BEFORE the 2010 Election. Now that really would have been honest !

[ChillDoubt]

Because he wasn't involved in making the manifesto mikey, someone else compiled it, but then you already knew that. He no doubt toed the party line beforehand, but then every politician does prior to an election, don't they?

In the interim period he's been busy compiling a new one as far as I'm aware.