Ukip leader – ‘Vote Tory’
By politics.co.uk
Ukip supporters in Somerset should vote Tory, the party’s leader has said.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch wrote to newspaper group Mid Somerset News and Media to say supporters of his party should cast their vote for Conservative candidates in Wells, Somerset and Frome and Taunton Deane.
But Ukip’s own candidates in the constituencies did not know of the move from their leader.
Taunton Dean candidate Tony McIntyre told the BBC he knew nothing of the letter until the corporation asked him about it and the party’s’ candidate in Wells, Jake Baynes has refused to stand-down even though party bosses asked him to.
Mr Baynes, standing against eurosceptic Tory David Heathcote-Amory said earlier this month: “To stand down would be a betrayal… it probably has ruffled a few feathers, but it’ll be water off a duck’s back at the end of the day.”
Ukip has a history of not opposing eusosceptic Conservatives, but Lord Pearson said he would not force Mr Baynes to stand down.
