TELEGRAPH 22.4.08
Tory rebel Bob Spink becomes Ukip's first MP
By Robert Winnett and Rosa Prince

The UK Independence Party has gained its first member of Parliament after a former Conservative MP agreed to join the party just nine days before the local elections.

Bob Spink, the MP for Castle Point in Essex, said he was "increasingly disappointed" with the Conservative Party, which expelled him last month. The defection is being heralded as a coup by Ukip.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Mr Spink said last night: "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.

"Dishonesty over the EU constitution is the Tories' greatest failure.
"They heap criticism on other parties, but refuse to remove the constitution if they ever get power.
"The public see this as opportunistic and hypocritical, but sadly, it is typical of Westminster politics.
"It is little wonder the public hold politicians in such contempt."

Mr Spink was welcomed to Ukip by Nigel Farage, the party's leader. "I am delighted to welcome the hard-working and deeply principled Bob Spink as Ukip's first member of Parliament," he said.

Lord Willoughby de Broke, a Ukip peer, added: "I am thrilled that Ukip now has a representative in the House of Commons.
"I look forward to working with him to further Ukip's programme of leaving the European Union."

Mr Spink is a controversial political figure who fell out with David Cameron after problems with his local constituency party. (Surely anyone of principle would fall out with the ridiculous upper class twit Cameron! AF)

Senior Conservative sources insisted last night that they were relaxed about Mr Spink defecting and said Ukip were "welcome to him".

Ukip presented a serious electoral threat to the Conservatives three years ago, when the party finished third in the 2004 European elections after recruiting Robert Kilroy-Silk, the former chat show host.

However, Mr Kilroy-Silk quit the party amid acrimony just nine months later and founded his own party, Veritas. Ukip went on to lose its deposit in more than 450 seats at the 2005 general election. Mr Cameron's relatively Euro-sceptic views are thought to have helped to stop Ukip's appeal spreading among other Conservative supporters.

Mr Spink was first elected to Parliament in 1992.
He lost his seat in 1997, but regained it in 2001, and Ukip sources said they are confident he will retain his seat at the next general election.