Ukip Candidate In Clacton Says He Won't Stand Aside For Defecting Tory MP Douglas Carswell

Douglas Carswell Faces His First Ukip Shambles...

In a slightly awkward turn of events, the man previously selected as the Ukip candidate for the Clacton seat has vowed to fight Douglas Carswell for the nomination.

Roger Lord said a few people had called to tell him to "shut up" but he has promised the contest is "not over yet".

He also accused Carswell of viewing his new party as an extension of the Conservatives and of defecting because the water was "around his ankles."

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell

Instead of jumping ship, Lord said his now-colleague should have let his Tory membership lapse as he did in 1997.

Lord, who says he was chosen three weeks ago, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We are bigger than that ... we are not just a eurosceptic party.

"Less than 25% of our supporters came from Conservative voters. The water's around his ankles. He has got nowhere else to go.

"He could have called me, he could have called round to my house ... There's a few things he could have done but he didn't do.

"He will pay the consequences. If you push someone too hard, then they push back. I'm just pushing back."

Asked whether he would step aside to make way for Carswell, he replied: "We are not a party that stands down.

"We don't bend, we don't break. We fight."

Asked whether he would fight for the nomination, he said: "Absolutely. I have been assured I will get a fair hearing."

Lord said he had spoken to Nigel Farage, but insisted the leader was not among those who had told him to "shut up".

He went on: "It was a very civilised conversation ... other people have rung me up like hysterical teenagers."

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP

Carswell defects to UKIP

Eight more Tories are set to turn to Ukip, it was reported Friday, following Carswell's sensational defection yesterday.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage has meanwhile already predicted further defections should Carswell win a by-election and become the Eurosceptic party's first MP.

The Tory deserter will return to his Clacton constituency today flanked by the Ukip leader, as the pair plan a completely unexpected by-election campaign following the shock announcement yesterday.

Close

What's Hot