UKIP landed another massive blow on the Conservatives today when a Tory MP defected to the right-wing party. The announcement that Mark Reckless would join UKIP was made as the party held its largest ever conference at Doncaster Racecourse.
A party official told BuzzFeed News: "Only a handful of people were aware in advance of Reckless's decision. Party press officers were told shortly before."
"So few people knew about this that he's [only] now being introduced to key people in UKIP," he added.
The party has apparently cleared the defection with the existing UKIP candidate for Reckess's constituency, Rochester and Strood, who has agreed to step aside. This will avoid the embarrassing situation that happened in Clacton when the existing candidate refused to step aside after Douglas Carswell defected from the Conservatives.
BuzzFeed News understands that Chris Bruni-Lowe, a former Conservative party worker and former UKIP campaign manager, was heavily involved in convincing Reckless to defect.
Following a speech by Nigel Farage, Reckless said: "Today I am leaving the Conservative party." He later added that he is stepping down as an MP and has therefore forced a by-election.
The audience gave Reckless a standing ovation when the news was announced.
The atmosphere here is completely crazed, high on Tory blood. Almost hate the Tories as much as Yes Scotlan...
The MP said he has found it difficult to keep promises as a Conservative politician, adding: "The leadership of the Conservative Party is part of the problem."
The news will come as an embarrassment for the prime minister, as only yesterday Reckless sent a tweet saying that he would lead a bus full of campaigners in Birmingham on Sunday and then in Clacton next week.
Labour MPs were quick to mock Cameron, pointing out that there could be further defections.
.@BBCBreaking now Mark Reckless quits Tories to join UKIP. Where will it end? There are at least two more in the pipeline that we know about
Another byelection for the Tories. Spending their money recklessly? #UKIP
Fair play to new UKIP defecting MP Mark Reckless, he's just publicly admitted George Osborne borrowed more in 4 years than Labour did in 13
One Conservative MP attempted to deflect the impact of the situation.
Mark Reckless #Ego #Yawn #MeMeMe
And UKIP played Elvis Presley's "A Little Less Conversation" as Reckless ended his announcement.
Mark reckless loving the attention.
Reckless said he hasn't spoken to the prime minister about his decision, but Downing Street has already responded, calling his move "illogical".
A statement said: "He says he wants action on a European referendum, tax, and immigration. The only party capable of delivering on these issues is the Conservative party – and a vote for UKIP is a vote for Ed Miliband."
Meanwhile, the shadow minister for the cabinet office, Michael Dugher, said: "On the eve of his conference we again see that Conservatives' confidence in Cameron is plummeting. David Cameron has always pandered to his right, and even they are now deserting him."
Farage suggested last month that a number of Conservative MPs were considering following Carswell's lead and defecting to UKIP.
Rumours of a defection at this conference started spreading on Thursday after UKIP party secretary Matthew Richardson privately suggested two current MPs might join the party in the next general election.
Carswell defected from the Conservatives last month, forcing a by-election in Clacton-on-Sea that will take place in October, when Carswell is expected to become UKIP's first elected MP.
