Express & Star

West Midlands MP 'seriously considered' UKIP defection

A West Midlands MP has revealed he 'seriously considered' defecting to the UK Independence Party.

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MP Mark Pritchard

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, whose Wrekin constituency covers areas including Shifnal and Albrighton, revealed he thought about joining Ukip last year, before deciding to stay with the Conservatives.

Mr Pritchard said he now believed that the popularity of Nigel Farage's party had peaked, and had no intention of quitting the Conservatives, but added: "There was a time when I seriously considered it."

Mr Pritchard, who has represented The Wrekin since 2005, said it was only when Mr Cameron announced his plans for an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU in January last year that he decided to remain as a Conservative MP.

"Now we have that commitment, clearly it makes sense to make the case as a Conservative MP," he said. "I am not going to defect to Ukip," he said. "There was a time when I seriously considered it."

He said that voting Ukip was likely to help put Ed Miliband into Downing Street.

"If I were a Labour political strategist, seeking to get Labour back into Number 10, I would have created Ukip," he said.

"Ukip are Ed Miliband's best political friend."

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