More bad news for the Tories, and yes more UKIP news!

12.28.00pm GMT Mon 15th Jan 2007

I have more bad news about the Conservatives, some of which I heard on Friday but saved it for today. Firstly Cardon (in South East Cornwall) District Councillor John Yaxley has joined the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Yaxley was elected as a Conservative in 2003. The Conservatives also lost a former Councillor and activist (Alan Blumenthal) to UKIP in Birmingham and a couple of high-donors are threading to withdraw their funding.

Stuart Wheeler, who donated £5m to the Conservatives in 2001, and Lord Kalms have said they are thinking of backing UKIP. Wheeler said "I think the Conservatives have not been nearly strong enough on Europe, which in many respects does a great deal of harm to this country, [although] it has its benefits too. I think it's terribly important that the Conservatives should announce they are going to be very, very much tougher with the European Union." Lord Kalms said "This issue is not above party loyalty. We will not be bound hand and foot to the Conservative party over Europe. This issue is one on which the whole future of the United Kingdom depends. The option remains open for me, and Tories that I know, to vote UKIP."