Douglas Carswell: Ukip eyes chance of first MP as Tory defects

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell joins Ukip, prompts by-election and calls for 'fundamental change in British politics’

Nigel Farage and Douglas Carswell
(Image credit: Bloomberg)

Conservative MP Douglas Carswell has defected to the UK Independence Party and will stand down as MP for Clacton in order to trigger a by-election.

He will stand for re-election as a Ukip candidate and, if he wins, will become the party's first MP.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up