Former Tory MP and UKIP Leader Defects to New Movement

PRESS RELEASE

Former Tory MP and UKIP Leader Defects to New Movement

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 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

www.letthepeopledecide.eu

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+).

At the Conservative Conference

The Campaign had four promotional vehicles on duty

With my team outside the conference venue

4.30am. Fire alarm woke us all up. Thankfully it was a false alarm

FORMER MEP DEN DOVER FACES JAIL

A former British Conservative MEP, Den Dover (1999-2009), has been ordered to pay back £345,289 to the European Parliament and could also face prosecution for fraud.

The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg today dismissed attempts by Dover to avoid repayment of the money that the European Parliament state was wrongly claimed between 1999 and 2008.

Dover made the following illegitimate payments from the allowance paid to MEPs to meet the costs of paying for staff:

·         £101,068 for three cars

·         £15,404 for office supplies and equipment,

·        £89,235 for postage and stationery

·        £100,735 for the costs of rent and renovation of Den Dover's 'office' which happened to be in his private home

·         £20,767 for telephone costs (MEPs get a separate allowance for all these office expenses, none of which are supposed to be paid from the staff budget)

·         £17,880 for 'entertainment’

·         £200 in donations to the Conservative Party

The Parliament also sought the repayment of £167,903 it claimed represented the costs of VAT that had not been paid.  The Court subsequently concluded that this was a matter for dispute between the British authorities and the former MEP.

Dover was ordered to pay his own costs.

Independent MEP for the West Midlands, Nikki Sinclaire, said:

 "I am glad that the authorities have pursued this matter and the court has ruled that publically-elected people are not above the law. Mr Dover has shown contempt for the taxpayers and abused the trust of the electorate."

ENDS

Editor’s Note

British Prime Minister David Cameron expelled Dover from the Conservative Party in 2008.