Bob Spink resigns the Conservative Whip ...after Tory machine declines to save him from deselection

Bob Spink, MP for the safe seat of Castle Point, has surprisingly resigned the Conservative Whip. He chose to announce his decision in a point of order during the House of Commons Budget debate this afternoon.

He cited the Party's failure to deal with unspecified "serious criminal and other irregularities" in his constituency, although the BBC is quoting a Party spokesman saying the Whip was withdrawn from him...

5pm update: Spink's statement confirms his resignation is related to deselection attempts from his Association...

"The Party has failed to deal with local breaches of its rules and electoral irregularities, and with criminal activities over a long period and there are now corruption and other investigations, surrounding certain senior members of my local Association. It is with great sadness that I therefore felt compelled to resign the Party whip. I hope my action in resigning will bring the necessary changes and therefore be in both the public and the Party’s best interests."

He had written this in his local paper two weeks ago:

"It is for Castle Point residents to decide who will be their MP, not a small number of self-selected individuals with their private agendas. I have made very serious enemies. So it is not surprising that some senior members of the Conservative Association executive have been working, yet again, to deselect me."

6pm: We've added the italics to the title: '...after Tory machine declines to save him from deselection'.  It appears - according to our CCHQ sources - that Mr Spink asked for the Tory machine to intervene to save him from a deselection meeting scheduled for next Tuesday.  He threatened to resign the whip if he didn't get that help.  The Tory leadership decided to take the whip away from him in response to that "blackmail".  There is some dispute as to whether he resigned first or was sacked first.  CCHQ say the whip was withdrawn before his Commons intervention.

9pm: Other blogosphere reaction: Guido has an email from Bob Spink.  Nadine Dorries expects Bob to defect to UKIP.  The FT's Jim Pickard has some of the background.

Comments

[Jack Stone]

Every subject on this site no matter what it is always ends up about Europe. It really is pathetic and shows how out of touch people who post on this site are with the REAL concerns of the British people.

[Gospel of Enoch]

Jack: 75% of our laws come from Brussels, and it affects everyday issues such as post office closures.

Until the Tories deal with "The Elephant in the Room", no progress can be made...

[TFA Tory]

Jack Stone, this thread is not about Europe. It is about whether a sitting MP who regained his seat and then increased his majority substantially should be hung out to dry by the Party and the Whips.

[Richard Carey]

“The Chief Whip said my resignation would disrupt the Party Spring Conference this weekend and asked me to reconsider, or at least to delay announcement. I refused.

Arrogant twit. As someone who is active in the Party and is taking part in that Forum, that really helps me and my colleagues.

Is it me, or is this not the firt time that Spink has thrown a hissy fit over this or that, based on his ego? I don't have links to hand, but this appears to be the straw that broke the camel's back.

So Spink was spanked. I wish every success to the new Conservative candidate in Castle Point as soon as they are selected.

[Geoff]

Too many comments are coming out here in ignorance of the facts. The truth is that we will get a clearer idea over the next few days but we don't know yet.

Guido has some allegations in his Comments which might shed another light on this issue, but those are equally likely to be erroneous.

Let's just chill and not feed the trolls. We can debate the rights and wrongs when we actually know what went on.

[Mrs Awkward]

"As someone who is active in the Party and is taking part in that Forum, that really helps me and my colleagues."- Richard Carey

Who is the arrogant twit? I'm not sure yet. I'd like to wait and hear the facts.

If Spink really has been obliged to resign because the Party has failed to deal with local breaches of its rules and electoral irregularities, and with criminal activities over a long period and there are now corruption and other investigations, surrounding certain senior members of the local Association, you have more to worry about than how you do at the Spring Forum.

[Ellesmere Dragge]

I see that Guido has the line:
Guido suspects that Spink is going in a huff because he faced deselection by his own constitutency association who were not happy about him employing his lover / wife / lover's daughter etcetera.

Seems a rather complicated lifestyle.

The pity is that Castle Point Association didn't draw the line at explicit racism or any of the other follies to be laid at this man's door.

[Treacle]

Bob Spink has been a martyr looking for a cause for ages. Unable to resist having the last word with what is admittedly very 'challenging' Association and with an elephantine memory for minor slights or insults, real or imagined, I can only marvel that this has not happened before.

If there was ever a constituency that needed an emollient Bufton Tufton type MP with a hide like a Rhino, Castle Point is it.

Canvey Island... the place that regards Genghis Khan as a weak-kneed leftie, soft on law & order......

[Cath]

It is all unfortunate, but Spink used the phrase "what part of send them back do they not understand" on an election leaflet in 2005. I know he was referring to unsuccessful asylum seekers rather than immigrants as a whole, but I think that the use of that phrase reveals someone who takes a bit too much delight in stirring up racial resentment.

I knew nothing about this situation until this afternoon and many posters will have an inside track but If he feels UKIP is his natural home I think that says more about them than us.

[Treacle]

Bob Spink has been a martyr looking for a cause for ages. Unable to resist having the last word with what is admittedly very 'challenging' Association and with an elephantine memory for minor slights or insults, real or imagined, I can only marvel that this has not happened before.

If there was ever a constituency that needed an emollient Bufton Tufton type MP with a hide like a Rhino, Castle Point is it.

Canvey Island... the place that regards Genghis Khan as a weak-kneed leftie, soft on law & order......

[Patrick Ratnaraja]

It looks like some one in the Party is not handling things properly.

How many more MPs are we going to loose?

If the party want more members to join, it is time to listen to members too.

[Mike]

I'm sure his signing of this EDM a short while back really helped his cause with CCHQ!

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35229&SESSION=891

[Geoff]

May I repeat my point from above - let's find out the facts before we respond to the trolls or we speculate without evidence.

Let's discover what has happened before we make accusations and unfounded comments. There is clearly a big story to come out of this one so we should hear it before we give our opinions.

[Chad Noble]

""Yes, that argument really stopped Roger Knapman and Christopher Gill... "

And where are they now?

Um, at home, able to sleep at night?

[Richard Wilson]

This has been organised by allies of Stephen Castle... It has long been on the cards.

Expect Stephen Castle to be quickly selected as Conservative candidate for this area.

[Joe James Broughton]

Castle Point is a wonderful place. When Mrs Thatcher sacked a Cabinet Minister in 1985, he pleaded with her saying he'd have to sell his country house at Benfleet.

[Walter West]

I don't think, in all honesty, that losing Dr. Spink is the worst thing to happen.

He has looked to be on the fringes of the parliamentary party for some while, and having met him a few times I came to the conclusion that he would probably feel more at home in UKIP.

We don't know the 'full story', but it looks, from what we do know, that he said, in effect, 'back me or sack me'. That sort of stance only works if you are sure of your position, which suggests that either Dr. Spink is an idiot (which I don't think he is) or did it on purpose with the intention of getting thrown out.

I wouldn't bet against UKIP having 'tapped him up' to use footballing parlance.

[digger]

interesting comment from his labour opponent 2005 on guido
'Guido

I stood against Bob as Labour candidate in Castle Point in 2005 and with my LD counterpart exposed his "send them back" advert nationally.

I deplore his views on Europe and immigration but would defend his personal integrity.

He was threatened with deselection not because of his views on national issues but because he offended powerful local business interests in the building trade by opposing planning applications that were not in the interests of his constituents.

He has made allegations of political corruption in Castle Point that chime with what local residents told me on the doorstep and need proper investigation by both the public authorities and the Tory Party.

Luke Akehurst'

[CONfused]

Knowing Dr Spink myself, he has been a good constituency MP and tireless fundraiser for charity, but his Association has been well renowned for sh*tting on him and riven by internal bickering.

The fact he lost the seat in 1997, I think demonstrated his complacency but his marginal gain in 2001 was poor considering Christine Butler was quite useless.

The Tories were never reduced to a single councillor on Castle Point. In the 1990s the seat flipped from 35 Cons and 5 Lab to the other way round and they almost reaped a clean sweep in 2003, but Dave Blackwell's Independents have virtually almost wiped them off Canvey; the BNP have now arrived and Labour are back on the council.

I predict a Tory hold in 2009/2010 but the majority will be affected by BNP and Spink as an Independent. God help us if Mr Castle becomes the candidate

[Dr. Bob Spink MP]

I am grateful to your contributors, I can learn from their perception of this matter. I was particularly moved by Luke Akehurst's comments, he is a gentleman of honour.

May I give the facts. On Tuesday 11th March I told the Chief Whip I was resigning saying: 'If you wish, we can discuss how to handle my resignation, including publicity'. Party bosses tried to change my mind saying I would certainly win any selection again as I won the last one with 87.5% of the vote. I stuck by my guns and announced my resignation on the floor of the House. The Conservative Party issued a written press release on 12 March 2008 Ref: 0509/08 stating: 'Dr. Spink e-mailed his resignation to Mr McLoughlin yesterday (Tuesday) and ... the whip was withdrawn today... Wednesday.

I am a principled Conservative and intend to stand as that at the next election.

I can be more influential as an Independent Tory, pushing for stronger policy on pensions, Europe, crime and immigration, and against corruption and bad local planning decisions and I will redouble my fight for local infrastructure and for Castle Point people... no change there then!

Finally, the police have been investigating corruption in Castle Point for some time and their investigations remain open.

What I did may carry a high personal cost, but this is not about Bob Spink, it is about what is right for my constituents and for Britain. There is too much spin and deceit in politics, and it’s not confined to one Party.

[Ken will be seen as a goldern era]

Vote Spink and split the tory vote as a labour supporter I am glad this euro skeptic is more interested in himself than his party. LOL. the tories have no loyalty to their party there more interested in tedious issues like Europe than getting into power.

[curbishly]

I thought the rules had changed in that the use of the words "Independent Conservative/Labour/Liberal" was a breach of copyright, or something?

Or have I got it wrong?.

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

This just goes to show that CCHQ/the Chief Whip were unusually right.

[Prentiz]

Yep - can't call yourself an Independent Conservative, its a breach of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. Its also wishful thinking to claim that any single independent MP can have any real influence on the type of issues which Mr. Spink highlights - something shown very clearly by both Richard Taylor and George Galloway.

I also note that Mr Spink complains that "the police have been investigating corruption...and their investigations remain open", which at the same time calling for the Conservative Party to intervene on the same basis. If the police are still really investigating (rather than going throught the motions) the last thing they will welcome is any interference from the Conservative Party...

[Neil Martin]

Which minister had a country pile in Benfleet?!

[Neil Martin]

You can call yourself an Independent Conservative etc if you want, surely, just not on a ballot paper? Clare Short does and councils are full of 'Independent Conservatives' and so on. There's an Independent Liberal Democrat Libertarian somewhere.

[Joe James Broughton]

"Which minister had a country pile in Benfleet?!

Posted by: Neil Martin | March 17, 2008 at 12:31 "

I think it was Patrick Jenkin, when Mrs Thatcher dispensed with his services after the botched abolition of the GLC.

[Councillor]

" Its also wishful thinking to claim that any single independent MP can have any real influence on the type of issues which Mr. Spink highlights"

This stuff about being inside or outside the tent is vastly over-rated.
Inside the tent you can shout as loud as you like but if others bury their heads in the sand and refuse to listen - because it suits them to do so - you will have no impact.....and all the time you are required to keep quiet about the truth.
However, once outside the tent you can tell the world what is really going on and all sorts of pressures come to bear. Sometimes a bit of openness and transparency works wonders.

Mr Spink actually said "I can be more influential as an Independent Tory". He may be right.

He probably sleeps better now too.

[michael mcgough]

At least Bob can call for conservative policies and values.Which part of 'you won't be better off under a Conservative government but you won't be worse off' can you possibly sell to streetwise Essex folk.That will give many candidates sleepless nights.
When you fight for what is right and tell the truth it is amazing how much easier it is.Truth is far more potent than being 'on message'.Bob may have made some powerful enemies but these will be outweighed by his many friends----famous or not.I look forward to this most active and commited MP firing on all cylinders,a true parliamentarian not a CCHQ serf.

[Northernhousewife]

If there is an Independent Tory and a Tory and the vote is split, there will be no Tory voice in this consistuency, independent or otherwise.
A suicide pact only helps your enemies in this case Mr Brown.
No real Tory would ever do that.

[ak23566]

Let us be clear on two points.

1. Dr Spink cannot call himself an Independent Conservative on the ballot paper. To do so is against the law and neither the Electoral Commission nor his local ERO will allow it.

2. If he stands, he will poll 1000 - 2000 votes maximum and will finish 4th. What makes Dr Spink think he would do better than the late George Gardiner in Reigate ?

Another case of "All political careers end in failure."

[james cullis]

iof you wanted to help join ukip that way vit would not lead to conFusion

[Northernhousewife]

If Mr Spinks problems locally are as set out then you can sympathise. He may indeed be a man who has many qualities, but you must 'come to equity with clean hands.'

The inflammatory comments in his leaflets and the financial arrangements relating to the employment of family members in his constituency jar with today's public.

The public are unlikely to view this as a Martin Bell/Neil Hamilton situation.

[james cullis]

look the oarty must realise it has a lort in common with ukip and ok im not particulary dfond of any of them but unles we stop atacgkinthe one party that shares some of ouhr beliefs (we differ on immigration) and start working together brown will stay vin power

[Joe James Broughton]

At a rough guess, I'd say about 3 to 4,000 for Spink, but it could actually only be about 700.

[Bents as a nine Bob note]

UKIP have no campaign structure in Castle Point.

The local UKIP activists resigned en masse and joined the English Democrats.

Bob Spink will have a very lonely time as a UKIP MP.

[Gospel of Enoch]

The interesting question, is, who do local UKIP campaigners support if the official Tory candidate also turns out to be BOO?

[West London Tory]

CASTLE POINT 2009/2010

Clarke, Helen (Lab) 11,388
Brokenshire, James (Con) 11,335
Janman, Tim (UKIP) 10,229
Pell, John (BNP) 6,339
McGuinness, Justine (LD) 934
Spink, Dr Bob (Ind Con) 775

LAB MAJORITY 53
LAB GAIN FROM CON

[Justin Hinchcliffe]

What an absurd prediction. You are clearly a puffed-up UKIP troll who wants to see Gordon Brown re-elected.

[TFA Tory]

West London Tory is just winding up the po-faced EUphiles. Justin Hinchcliffe, an aspiring Thames angler, had his sense of humour removed long ago.

Bob Spink, as a sitting BOO MP, would not be challenged by UKIP if he stood at the next election. Tim Janman (former Conservative MP for Thurrock) has not joined UKIP and remains a Conservative Party member.

Castle Point may be James Brokeshire's best and last hope of being selected for a safe seat.

[John]

I am afraid that you all (or most of you) seem to be missing the point here. It is UKIP's first MP and many others have been waiting in the wings because although they want to go they did not wish to be the index case as it were. The Conservative Party has become the private tool of left leaning Europhiles who are prepared to sacrifice their country for their own selfish ends. Well done to you Bob for having the courage to tell Cameron what a drip he really is.

[Lee Davies]

Spink has joined UKIP at a troubled time. Farage is fighting allegations of graft - he took a 10,000 pound cheque from fellow MEP Graham Booth last summer, supposedly to buy a new car. He never bought the car....

This follows revelations that he broke a pledge to his party not to employ relatives, by employing his wife, and possibly arranging a job for his son, Sam.

It seems Farage is driven by money troubles, and lacks financial integrity. He is the only UKIP MEP never to have given money to the party.

[Greg]

Bob Spink could have served his constituents best as an Independent and his Country in his new found roll as Chairman of CIB - which addressed his very real and propper concerns about the catastrophic relationship these United kingdoms have with the corrupt, centralised and undemocratic EU that has been so damaging for Britain and at such immense cost and risk has achieved so very little of value.

Time will prove Bob's move to EUkip to be a huge error of judgement on his part, a disaster for EUkip, a catastrophy for CIB and a calamity for EUroScepticism.

In the short term it might give the impression that Farage has achieved something in his 20 months of leadership which is misleading as he lacks the vision or competence for leadership.

It also stands every chance of seeing Bob Spink linked with various upcoming Inquiries by the British Police, OLAF, the Gibraltar Police, IoM Authorities and Courts relative to the activities of Farage and others and the fraud, embezzling and money laundering by EUkip's MEP Tom Wise as openly published and easily verrified.

Time will tell but I do feel certain that Bob Spink has very much made the wrong decision by any 'standards' but maybe 'standards' are of no interest to him.

Regards,
Greg L-W.

[Greg L-W.]

Dr. Robert Spink seemingly features in his own political obituary titled:
'Eyes Wide Shut'