Not necessarily.
I would agree if less than 10 defected, ie like the gang of four, it would be career suicide. But if a whole bunch of them went then they would have a considerable amount of credibility.
For a start they would be seen to be putting their money where there mouth was and standing up for their convictions - something that it very rare, but much admired when it does happen.
Robin Cook went up in most people's estimation when he resigned over the war, for example.
That would give them a far higher chance of attracting more candidates from both parties, not from the Lib Dems of course, as well as giving UKIP something worthwhile to get involved with.
It is the only real chance that any of us have of getting an anti-EU government.
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