Tory MP defection.

Author
Discussion

Fittster

Original Poster:

20,120 posts

212 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
"Tory MP Douglas Carswell has defected to the UK Independence Party and 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."

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

Quite impressed he's got the balls to call a by-election. Never like it when an MP switches parties without calling a by-election (yes, Emma Nicholson I'm thinking of you).


dandarez

13,246 posts

282 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
Already on UKIP thread

irocfan

40,153 posts

189 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
Fittster said:
"Tory MP Douglas Carswell has defected to the UK Independence Party and 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."

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

Quite impressed he's got the balls to call a by-election. Never like it when an MP switches parties without calling a by-election (yes, Emma Nicholson I'm thinking of you).
I agree - an honest and honourable politician!!! Truly this is the age of wonders!

CooperD

2,852 posts

176 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
I met Douglas Carswell a few years ago. He came to Harwich port where I was working. He seemed a pretty straightforward chap and very pleasnt to talk to. Not to up on himself like many politicians. Very good constituency MP apparently so has a strong chance of getting re-elected for UKIP.

BlackLabel

13,251 posts

122 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
He had a majority of over 12,000 so he would have easily won the seat as a Tory next year. So credit to him for forcing a by-election because I can't imagine he'd be favourite under a UKIP banner.

The results last time round:

Con 22,867
Lab 10,799
LD 5,577
BNP 1975


It appears UKIP didn't stand last time.

cranford10

350 posts

115 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
I live in this constituency. Often see Carswell out & about and he is a good MP IMO. The demographic here is quite elderly so natural UKIP voters anyway. He is odds on to retain the seat (1/3 with Paddy Power I think)

BlackLabel

13,251 posts

122 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
cranford10 said:
I live in this constituency. Often see Carswell out & about and he is a good MP IMO. The demographic here is quite elderly so natural UKIP voters anyway. He is odds on to retain the seat (1/3 with Paddy Power I think)
Interesting.

So a heavy favourite then - didn't expect that. Cameron must be fuming.

mrpurple

2,624 posts

187 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
BlackLabel said:
cranford10 said:
I live in this constituency. Often see Carswell out & about and he is a good MP IMO. The demographic here is quite elderly so natural UKIP voters anyway. He is odds on to retain the seat (1/3 with Paddy Power I think)
Interesting.

So a heavy favourite then - didn't expect that. Cameron must be fuming.
Out of interest - any idea what they would have been as a Tory?

cranford10

350 posts

115 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
BlackLabel said:
Interesting.

So a heavy favourite then - didn't expect that. Cameron must be fuming.
He is the complete opposite to Cameron thankfully

Interesting post from Guido here on the PP blog

http://blog.paddypower.com/2014/08/28/guido-fawkes...

Esseesse

8,969 posts

207 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
dandarez said:
Already on UKIP thread
Worthy of it's own thread.

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
Bugger Uxbridge. They should parachute Boris into Clacton right now and hasten this idiot's demise.

BlackLabel

13,251 posts

122 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
It's worth listening to what he had to say. Although I'm not sure any of these problems will get better just because UKIP get a seat or 2.

I wonder if this will prompt any other Tories to defect?

https://audioboo.fm/boos/2430117-douglas-carswell-...

wolves_wanderer

12,356 posts

236 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
unrepentant said:
Bugger Uxbridge. They should parachute Boris into Clacton right now and hasten this idiot's demise.
At least he has called a by-election. Besides which, this seat probably isn't safe enough for Boris to be interested in.

mrpurple

2,624 posts

187 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all

ralphrj

3,508 posts

190 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
wolves_wanderer said:
At least he has called a by-election. Besides which, this seat probably isn't safe enough for Boris to be interested in.
Based only on the 2010 election result Clacton would be a safer bet than Uxbridge.

powerstroke

10,283 posts

159 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
Fantastic news another step forward , even if all it does is hasten Cameron's
Demise it will be good , UKIP'S rise is a very positive thing ..

crankedup

25,764 posts

242 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
Prominent M.P. display's conviction politics, maybe a few others should follow his lead. As for Boris, well we have a vacant seat coming up ready for the next election. Bury St Edmunds Constituency, as safe a Tory seat outside of Westminster your likely to find.

unrepentant

21,212 posts

255 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
powerstroke said:
Fantastic news another step forward , even if all it does is hasten Cameron's
Demise it will be good , UKIP'S rise is a very positive thing ..
rofl

BlackLabel

13,251 posts

122 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
mrpurple said:
Out of interest - any idea what they would have been as a Tory?
His majority as a % of the total vote in 2010 was 28% which ranks it 492 out of 650 so the odds of Carswell losing, had he continued to stand as a Tory, in 2015 must have been very very low. It was a very safe Tory seat.


http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge10/maj....

wolves_wanderer

12,356 posts

236 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
ralphrj said:
wolves_wanderer said:
At least he has called a by-election. Besides which, this seat probably isn't safe enough for Boris to be interested in.
Based only on the 2010 election result Clacton would be a safer bet than Uxbridge.
No doubt, but where would you prefer to fight an election for the Tories?

Off topic but Boris, far from looking to prove he is the Conservative with universal appeal has gone for just about the safest seat possible.