Watch A Video Of The Moment Tory MP Douglas Carswell Defected To Ukip | HuffPost

Watch A Video Of The Moment Tory MP Douglas Carswell Defected To Ukip

The Huffington Post UK

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Tory MP Douglas Carswell's shock defection to Ukip has taken many by surprise.

The news has set off fevered speculation about which other Conservative MPs could follow Carswell by defecting to Ukip.

Carswell also said he would resign from the Commons and trigger a by-election in order to seek re-election to parliament as a Ukip candidate.

He said it would have been easier for him to "muddle along" as a Tory backbencher until next May, but he wanted to do the "honourable" thing.

See also:
6 Tories Who Might Follow Douglas Carswell And Join Ukip
Tory MP Douglas Carswell Defects To Ukip And Triggers By-Election

"As someone who's always answered directly to the independent-minded people of Essex, there is only one honourable thing for me to do," the 43-year old backbencher said. "I must seek permission from my boss, the people of Clacton. I will now resign from Parliament and stand for Ukip in the by-election that now follows."

Carswell won a 12,068 majority in 2010. If he is successful in holding on to his seat he will become Ukip's first ever elected MP. In 2008 Castle Point Tory MP Bob Spink defected to Ukip. He fought the 2010 election as an independent, but lost.

Carswell defects to UKIP

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(01 of16)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is fitted with an earpiece prior to being interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(02 of16)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(03 of16)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Nigel Farage (L), the Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), listens as Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell Defects To UKIP(04 of16)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Member of Parliament Douglas Carswell is interviewed in Westminster after announcing he is switching from the Conservative party to UKIP on August 28, 2014 in London, England. Mr Carswell, the MP for Clacton who holds Eurosceptic views, has resigned as an MP and will contest the subsequent by-election for UKIP. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) (credit:Oli Scarff via Getty Images)

BRITAIN-POLITICS-VOTE-UKIP(05 of16)

Former British Conservative Party MP Douglas Carswell (R) addresses a press conference in central London on August 28, 2014, with UKIP Party leader Nigel Farage (L). British MP Douglas Carswell dealt a heavy blow to Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday as he announced he was to leave the Conservative Party and join the UK Independence Party (UKIP). AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)

BRITAIN-POLITICS-VOTE-UKIP(06 of16)

Former British Conservative Party MP Douglas Carswell (R) addresses a press conference in central London on August 28, 2014, with UKIP Party leader Nigel Farage (L). British MP Douglas Carswell dealt a heavy blow to Prime Minister David Cameron on Thursday as he announced he was to leave the Conservative Party and join the UK Independence Party (UKIP). AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUSTIN TALLIS via Getty Images)

Carswell defects to UKIP(07 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(08 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(09 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(10 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(11 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(12 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(13 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(14 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(15 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (left) with Douglas Carswell during a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

Carswell defects to UKIP(16 of16)

UKIP leader Nigel Farage (right) with Douglas Carswell after a press conference in central London where the Conservative MP defected to his party today. (credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

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