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Tuesday 9 September 2014

Two Clacton Tory Councillors defect to UKIP

Councillor Dawn Skeels and Councillor Michael Skeels have made the change and switched to UKIP, following MP Douglas Carswell's lead in the Clacton constituency.

Councillor Dawn Skeels said: "We have decided to make the change with Douglas. We both feel like the Conservative Party is increasingly the private property of people like Matthew Parris, rather than local people. Douglas has always been a brilliant MP and we are proud to join him in UKIP."

Councillor Michael Skeels said: "We feel strongly that this is the right thing to do. We hope that more Conservative Councillors follow us and Douglas to UKIP, the only party that looks out for local people."

UKIP candidate in the Clacton by-election Douglas Carswell commented: "We are making this change together. It's wonderful to have Dawn and Mick's support."

UKIP haven't said whether the two councillors will follow Mr Carswell's lead and do, in UKIP leader Nigel Farage's own words, the "bravest and most honourable thing" and stand in a by-election to get a public mandate to sit as UKIP councillors.