Discussion
Kilroy launches 'Veritas' party
Mr Kilroy-Silk said the UK had been stolen
Ex-BBC chat show host and East Midlands MEP Robert Kilroy-Silk has said he wants to "change the face of British politics" as he launched his new party.
Mr Kilroy-Silk, who quit the UK Independence Party last week, said Veritas - Latin for "truth" - hoped to contest most seats at the election.
He told a London news conference the party would be "straight talking" and avoid the old parties' "lies and spin".
UKIP leader Roger Knapman says he was glad to see the back of Mr Kilroy-Silk.
British national interest?
Mr Kilroy-Silk promised a "firm but fair" policy on immigration, saying mass immigration had led to "our country being stolen from us".
He said Veritas would also announce detailed policies on crime, tax, pensions, health and defence over the next few weeks.
And he announced the party would be holding a leadership election.
On Thursday he is due to announce which constituency he will run in at the next general election - that will come amid speculation he has his sights set on Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's Ashfield seat.
He was joined in the new venture by one of UKIP's two London Assembly members, Damien Hockney who is now Veritas' deputy leader.
UKIP's chairman Petrina Holdsworth has said the group will just be a parody of the party the men have left.
Unlike the old parties, we shall be honest, open and straight
Robert Kilroy-Silk
Veritas founder
Mr Kilroy-Silk announced his decision to quit UKIP at a public meeting in Hinckley, Leicestershire last week.
It came after months of tension as he vied unsuccessfully for the leadership of that party.
He said he was ashamed to be a member of a UKIP whose leadership had "gone AWOL" after the great opportunity offered by its third place at last June's European elections.
"While UKIP has turned its back on the British people, I shall not," he said.
"I will be standing at the next general election. I shall be leading a vigorous campaign for the causes I believe in.
"And, unlike the old parties, we shall be honest, open and straight."
More defections?
Mr Hockney also left UKIP saying Mr Kilroy-Silk would "deliver better" as the leader of a Eurosceptic party.
A spokesman for UKIP called on Mr Hockney to quit the London Assembly.
The party asserts that Mr Hockney "has a moral obligation, if not a legal one" to stand down.
Its leader, Roger Knapman, has said he is glad to see the back of Mr Kilroy-Silk.
"He has remarkable ability to influence people but, sadly, after the [European] election it became clear that he was more interested in the Robert Kilroy-Silk Party than the UK Independence Party so it was nice knowing him, now 'goodbye'," he said.
UKIP officials also argue Mr Kilroy-Silk has not been "straightforward" in attacking the party he once wanted to lead
Mr Kilroy-Silk said the UK had been stolen
Ex-BBC chat show host and East Midlands MEP Robert Kilroy-Silk has said he wants to "change the face of British politics" as he launched his new party.
Mr Kilroy-Silk, who quit the UK Independence Party last week, said Veritas - Latin for "truth" - hoped to contest most seats at the election.
He told a London news conference the party would be "straight talking" and avoid the old parties' "lies and spin".
UKIP leader Roger Knapman says he was glad to see the back of Mr Kilroy-Silk.
British national interest?
Mr Kilroy-Silk promised a "firm but fair" policy on immigration, saying mass immigration had led to "our country being stolen from us".
He said Veritas would also announce detailed policies on crime, tax, pensions, health and defence over the next few weeks.
And he announced the party would be holding a leadership election.
On Thursday he is due to announce which constituency he will run in at the next general election - that will come amid speculation he has his sights set on Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's Ashfield seat.
He was joined in the new venture by one of UKIP's two London Assembly members, Damien Hockney who is now Veritas' deputy leader.
UKIP's chairman Petrina Holdsworth has said the group will just be a parody of the party the men have left.
Unlike the old parties, we shall be honest, open and straight
Robert Kilroy-Silk
Veritas founder
Mr Kilroy-Silk announced his decision to quit UKIP at a public meeting in Hinckley, Leicestershire last week.
It came after months of tension as he vied unsuccessfully for the leadership of that party.
He said he was ashamed to be a member of a UKIP whose leadership had "gone AWOL" after the great opportunity offered by its third place at last June's European elections.
"While UKIP has turned its back on the British people, I shall not," he said.
"I will be standing at the next general election. I shall be leading a vigorous campaign for the causes I believe in.
"And, unlike the old parties, we shall be honest, open and straight."
More defections?
Mr Hockney also left UKIP saying Mr Kilroy-Silk would "deliver better" as the leader of a Eurosceptic party.
A spokesman for UKIP called on Mr Hockney to quit the London Assembly.
The party asserts that Mr Hockney "has a moral obligation, if not a legal one" to stand down.
Its leader, Roger Knapman, has said he is glad to see the back of Mr Kilroy-Silk.
"He has remarkable ability to influence people but, sadly, after the [European] election it became clear that he was more interested in the Robert Kilroy-Silk Party than the UK Independence Party so it was nice knowing him, now 'goodbye'," he said.
UKIP officials also argue Mr Kilroy-Silk has not been "straightforward" in attacking the party he once wanted to lead
JagLover said:
Don't be racist against Orange people.
Actually thats not a bad idea - group together all of the Orange ones and they can some sort of royal heritage....
Oh well, like them or loath them at least the UKIP had something to say (albeit in a haphazzard and ill-conceived manner). Now it just separates, divides and add credibility to the main parties....
Makes Michael Howard look like some great orator....
Just heard him on Jeremy Vine.
What a complete prat.
Vine had him tied up in knots, soooo funny. Listen to it on www.bbc.co.uk.
What a complete prat.
Vine had him tied up in knots, soooo funny. Listen to it on www.bbc.co.uk.
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