This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7292642.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Tories expel deselection row MP Deselection row MP leaves Tories
(about 2 hours later)
The Conservatives have withdrawn the party whip from backbencher Bob Spink, in a row over apparent efforts by his local party to deselect him. Backbencher Bob Spink has left the Tory group of MPs at Westminster, in a row over apparent efforts by his local party to deselect him.
The MP earlier told the Commons he had resigned the whip over the party's failure to deal with "irregularities" in his Castle Point constituency. Mr Spink said he had resigned the whip because the party had not taken action to sort out the association.
But the party said they withdrew the whip with immediate effect, after he threatened to resign. But the party said it withdrew the whip when he threatened to resign, in order to maintain "party discipline".
The Castle Point MP said he would fight the next election as an "independent Conservative".
The BBC understands he was facing a re-selection meeting next Tuesday.The BBC understands he was facing a re-selection meeting next Tuesday.
'Private agendas''Private agendas'
Mr Spink raised a point of order during a debate on the Budget, saying: "Mr Deputy Speaker, I wonder if you could advise me how I can proceed to inform the House that I have, as of today, resigned the Conservative Party whip because the Conservative Party has failed to deal with serious criminal and other irregularities in my constituency." Mr Spink raised a point of order during a debate on the Budget, saying he had "resigned the Conservative Party whip because the Conservative Party has failed to deal with serious criminal and other irregularities in my constituency".
As a matter of good party discipline I cannot have MPs making threats to resign the whip at a time of their own choosing, if the demands of the party are not met Patrick McLoughlinTory chief whipAs a matter of good party discipline I cannot have MPs making threats to resign the whip at a time of their own choosing, if the demands of the party are not met Patrick McLoughlinTory chief whip
Deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst stopped him, saying: "I think you have done enough to inform the House on that particular point."
But the party says it withdrew the whip - excluding him from the Tory group at Westminster - when he emailed the chief whip threatening to resign, accusing the party of "not doing enough to protect him during efforts by his association to deselect him".But the party says it withdrew the whip - excluding him from the Tory group at Westminster - when he emailed the chief whip threatening to resign, accusing the party of "not doing enough to protect him during efforts by his association to deselect him".
In a letter the Conservative Chief Whip, Patrick McLoughlin, replied: "As a matter of good party discipline I cannot have MPs making threats to resign the whip at a time of their own choosing, if the demands of the party are not met.In a letter the Conservative Chief Whip, Patrick McLoughlin, replied: "As a matter of good party discipline I cannot have MPs making threats to resign the whip at a time of their own choosing, if the demands of the party are not met.
"I must therefore treat your resignation as taking immediate effect"."I must therefore treat your resignation as taking immediate effect".
'Serious enemies' 'Private agendas'
Last month Mr Spink claimed members of his local Conservative Association had been working to deselect him.Last month Mr Spink claimed members of his local Conservative Association had been working to deselect him.
He wrote in an article for his local paper: "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."He wrote in an article for his local paper: "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."
He added: "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." If the party refuses to take action to sort out my local association, I don't see how I can be associated with it Bob Spink
In his letter, Mr McLoughlin said the party had initiated an investigation last year into the management of the local Conservative Association in response to Mr Spink's concerns.In his letter, Mr McLoughlin said the party had initiated an investigation last year into the management of the local Conservative Association in response to Mr Spink's concerns.
"It did not find evidence to enable it to conclude that it would be justified in depriving the association of its rights under the constitution to consider your re-selection.""It did not find evidence to enable it to conclude that it would be justified in depriving the association of its rights under the constitution to consider your re-selection."
But Mr Spink told the BBC later: "If the party refuses to take action to sort out my local association, I don't see how I can be associated with it."
He said it was with "great sadness" he felt compelled to resign the whip and said he remained a "committed and principled Conservative" and would fight the next election as an independent Conservative.
Mr Spink is the third Conservative MP to lose the Tory whip in the last year, the others being Derek Conway and Andrew Pelling. Quentin Davies defected to Labour in June 2007.Mr Spink is the third Conservative MP to lose the Tory whip in the last year, the others being Derek Conway and Andrew Pelling. Quentin Davies defected to Labour in June 2007.
Mr Spink has sometimes been a controversial figure. During the 2005 general election campaign he was accused of whipping up racial tension for running a newspaper advert on immigration headlined: "What bit of 'send them back' don't you understand Mr Blair?"Mr Spink has sometimes been a controversial figure. During the 2005 general election campaign he was accused of whipping up racial tension for running a newspaper advert on immigration headlined: "What bit of 'send them back' don't you understand Mr Blair?"