PRESS RELEASE
Former Tory MP and UKIP Leader Defects to New Movement
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| Roger Knapman Former MP and UKIP Leader |
On the eve of the UKIP conference, a former party leader has defected to a new pro-Referendum movement.
Roger Knapman, former Conservative MP for Stroud, lead the parties breakthrough in the 2004 European election where UKIP came third.
His defection to the newly established "We demand a referendum party" was announced on the day when UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttell admitted that the new grouping was a threat to their own election hopes.
The new party has been founded by high profile MEP Nikki Sinclaire and former Apprentice star Katie Hopkins.
Roger Knapman, former Conservative MP for Stroud, lead the parties breakthrough in the 2004 European election where UKIP came third.
His defection to the newly established "We demand a referendum party" was announced on the day when UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttell admitted that the new grouping was a threat to their own election hopes.
The new party has been founded by high profile MEP Nikki Sinclaire and former Apprentice star Katie Hopkins.
Roger Knapman was the Conservative MP for Stroud between 1987 to 1997, and PPS to Armed Forces Minister Archie Hamilton between 1990 to 1992 when he resigned over the Maastricht Treaty. He Joined UKIP in 2000, became leader in 2002 until 2006 and was succeeded by Nigel Farage MEP
The ´We Demand a Referendum´ Party has vowed to stand in every seat in the European Elections of 2014 unless David Cameron calls an In/Out referendum by 1 Jan 2014. A YouGov Poll on 4th to 5th Sept´ showed a third of the electorate would or probably would vote for such a single issue party.
Roger Knapman said "Now is the time to force a referendum with our country's continued membership of the European Union. We eurosceptics have won all the arguments. In or Out that is the only question that has to be answered now."
Roger added "I am very happy to give my full support to this initiative, established parties, including UKIP have failed to deliver, and it is time for the People to Demand a Referendum"
Party Chairman, Nikki Sinclaire MEP said "We are delighted to have someone of Rogers's calibre on board. His experience will be invaluable to achieving our aims."
ENDS
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,474 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 4th - 5th September 2012. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
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