Sex Scandal And Defection Hit Tory Conference

The Tories have been dealt a devastating double blow after a minister quit over a sex scandal and another party MP announced he was defecting to UKIP.

Cabinet Office minister Brooks Newmark resigned after reportedly sending explicit pictures of himself online to an undercover tabloid newspaper reporter.

His announcement came just hours after Rochester and Strood MP Mark Reckless declared he was joining Nigel Farage's "people's army".

Nigel Farage could not contain his delight at Mark Reckless's defection

He is the second Conservative to defect to UKIP within a month, joining Clacton MP Douglas Carswell.

For the Tories arriving in Birmingham for their final party conference before the general election in May, there could hardly have been a worse start to the gathering.

Samantha Cameron and the PM arrive in Birmingham for the conference

The setbacks completely overshadowed the announcement of plans for a new squeeze on benefits to fund millions of new apprenticeships.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Mr Newmark allegedly exchanged explicit pictures over the internet with a reporter posing as a Tory PR girl.

The 56-year-old married father of five tendered his resignation after learning that the newspaper was about to publish details of their exchanges.

"I have decided to resign as Minister for Civil Society having been notified of a story to be published in a Sunday newspaper," he said in a statement. 

"I would like to appeal for the privacy of my family to be respected at this time," he added.

Earlier, Mr Reckless received an ecstatic reception from UKIP activists at their party conference in Doncaster after he declared he was leaving the Tories.

Brooks Newmark resigned over claims he sent explicit photos over the net

He accused the leadership of failing to keep its promises on Europe, the economy and immigration.

"People feel ignored, taken for granted, over-taxed, over-regulated, ripped off and lied to," he declared to rapturous applause.

He dismissed the PM's promise of an in/out EU referendum as a "device" designed to deliver the "pre-ordained" result in favour of Britain's continued membership.

Mr Cameron, arriving last night in Birmingham with his wife Samantha, wished waiting reporters "good evening" but did not respond to questions.

Mark Reckless was a close ally of fellow defector Douglas Carswell

Nevertheless there was deep anger in the Conservative ranks, with a party spokesman denouncing the move as "completely illogical".

The spokesman warned that "a vote for UKIP is a vote for Ed Miliband" and Labour.

Mr Reckless's constituency party chairman, Andrew Mackness, said that he was "astonished and disgusted" by the MP's action.

"Only 48 hours ago he proclaimed his support for the Conservatives and their plans for a referendum on Europe and he gave me assurances he wouldn't defect," he said.

Samanth Cameron was all smiles as she arrived in Birmingham

"He has misled the hard-working people of Rochester and Strood who voted for him."

Like Mr Carswell, Mr Reckless said that he would be standing down as an MP in order to fight the seat as a UKIP candidate in a by-election.

Although he took the Kent constituency with a majority of almost 10,000 at the last general election, he may face a a tough battle to return to Westminster.

Mr Farage acknowledged that he did not enjoy the same "personal following that Mr Carswell has in Clacton".

But he said he would do "whatever it takes" to get him re-elected.

In his last act as a Tory MP, Mr Reckless rebelled against the Government in the emergency Commons vote on air strikes against Islamic State militants.

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said: "Even late last night he was leaving voicemails with people saying how much he was looking forward to coming to a campaign day this Sunday here in Birmingham Northfield for one of our candidates.

"People will come to their own conclusions about whether this is therefore a trustworthy individual."

Downing Street said that Reading East MP Rob Wilson had been appointed the new Civil Society Minister.

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