British Democracy Forum - View Single Post - Tory rebel Bob Spink becomes Ukip's first MP !!!!

Anthony Butcher · 22-04-2008, 09:22 AM

Former Tory MP switches to opposition - Scotsman.com News

Quote:

THE UK Independence Party gained its first Member of Parliament today after former Tory MP Bob Spink announced he had joined its ranks.

Mr Spink was expelled from the Conservative Party last month after a bitter dispute with the local party in his Castle Point, Essex, constituency.

Today he accused the Tories of being "dishonest" with the public over its policies on Europe and said there was no need for him to fight a by-election despite his switch of parties.

He said: "I was elected as Bob Spink. I work hard for my constituents and I will continue to do so.

"I am following to the letter every word that I promised them in my manifesto and I only wish the parties were doing the same, including the Tory Party."

EADT - Tory MP defects to UKIP

Quote:

AN Essex MP has defected to the UK Independence Party, a month after resigning the Conservative whip in protest at the party's “failure” to protect him from possible deselection at the next election.

Bob Spink, who was first elected MP for Castle Point in 1992, becomes the first serving Member of Parliament to join UKIP, which wants Britain to quit the European Union.

In a statement released by UKIP, he accused the Conservative Party of being “dishonest” with the public over its policies on Europe.

“I am delighted to join the UKIP team, helping to fight for Britain's interests in Europe and for better policy on the issues that really matter to people.

“I have been increasingly disappointed with the Tory Party's failure to be honest with the public on a wide range of issues like pensions, crime, immigration and defence, which is why I voted against the Tory whip so often in recent years and finally resigned the whip last month.”

Jeffrey Titford, who became UKIP's first elected politician from this region after winning a seat in the European Parliament, said: “I am very pleased that UKIP's first Member of the House of Commons is from the East of England.

“The Eastern Counties have a strong EU-realist pedigree as the results of the last two European Elections have shown. Bob will be a major asset to the Party and may be a catalyst for future electoral success.”

The party's leader, Nigel Farage, described Mr Spink as “hard working and deeply principled” while UKIP peer Lord Willoughby de Broke said he was “thrilled” that the party at last had a representative in the House of Commons.

Mr Spink, who had been in dispute with his local Tory Party which had threatened to deselect him, said he had no intention of resigning his seat and fighting a by-election. “I was elected as Bob Spink. I work hard for my constituents and I will continue to do so.

“I am following to the letter every word that I promised them in my manifesto and I only wish that the parties were doing the same, including the Tory Party.

“They heap criticism on other parties for bringing the EU Reform Treaty forward, and yet they refuse point blank to do anything about it if they get power. That is a dishonest position to hold with the public.”

Mr Spink was elected in 1992 by was defeated by Labour in 1997. Four years' later, he regained Castle Point and held in 2005 with a majority of 8,201. In that election, UKIP polled 7.5% of the vote, one of the few seats where they saved their deposit.

Bob Spink becomes Ukip's first MP - politics.co.uk

Quote:

Former Conservative MP Bob Spink has become the UK Independence party's (Ukip) first MP.

It comes after the MP for Castle Point in Essex lost the Tory whip after remarks about failing to root out corruption in the local party.

Mr Spink, one of the Commons' most vocal opponents of abortion, said he had become "increasingly disappointed" with the Conservatives' drift to the centre-right.

He explained his disagreements on issues like pensions, crime, immigration and defence had led to him voting against the Tory whip frequently in recent years.

On the EU, Ukip's most prominent issue, he added: "I am pro, not anti-European, but positive and sensible cooperation with the EU does not require us to sell the British people down the river or to give our independence away."

Ukip leader Nigel Farage described Mr Spink as "hard-working and deeply principled" and described his decision to join the party as a "logical step" to take given his beliefs.

Difficulties with Mr Spink's constituency party were key to his departure. Mr Spink had accused his local party of "serious criminal and other irregularities",

That led to chief whip Patrick McLoughlin withdrawing the whip prior to Mr Spink's resignation, a claim Mr Spink dismissed as "brass-knecked dishonesty".

It was reported locally that Mr Spink had fallen out with local councillor Bill Sharp after being romantically linked to his partner Gail Boland, a former councillor.