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/8045250.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Boycott big parties, says Tebbit Boycott big parties, says Tebbit
(10 minutes later)
Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit is urging people to boycott the major political parties at next month's European elections.Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit is urging people to boycott the major political parties at next month's European elections.
Lord Tebbit told BBC Radio 4's Today voters were angry with the current crop of MPs and urged them to fire a "shot across the bows" of the big parties.Lord Tebbit told BBC Radio 4's Today voters were angry with the current crop of MPs and urged them to fire a "shot across the bows" of the big parties.
He held back from endorsing one of the smaller parties but stressed that he did not want people to vote BNP.He held back from endorsing one of the smaller parties but stressed that he did not want people to vote BNP.
He said he would be urging people to vote Tory at the general election.He said he would be urging people to vote Tory at the general election.
He also suggested that people should vote in the local elections, which are also being held on 4 June, "as they normally do".He also suggested that people should vote in the local elections, which are also being held on 4 June, "as they normally do".
BBC Political editor Nick Robinson said Lord Tebbit was choosing his words carefully in not endorsing a particular party - a move which would lead him being expelled from the Conservative Party.BBC Political editor Nick Robinson said Lord Tebbit was choosing his words carefully in not endorsing a particular party - a move which would lead him being expelled from the Conservative Party.
'Welfare junkies' 'Powerful shot'
But he said Lord Tebbit's "extraordinary" intervention would be seen as an effective endorsement for the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for withdrawal from the EU.But he said Lord Tebbit's "extraordinary" intervention would be seen as an effective endorsement for the UK Independence Party, which campaigns for withdrawal from the EU.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Lord Tebbit told Today: "What I am advising people is to show the major parties that it is the electors who are masters and the electors are extremely upset with their employees in the House of Commons and I said don't vote for the major parties."Lord Tebbit told Today: "What I am advising people is to show the major parties that it is the electors who are masters and the electors are extremely upset with their employees in the House of Commons and I said don't vote for the major parties."
He said "not everybody" would follow his suggestion and the likely outcome at the European elections was "much the same result but on an extraordinarily low poll".He said "not everybody" would follow his suggestion and the likely outcome at the European elections was "much the same result but on an extraordinarily low poll".
"The leaders of the major parties would be reminded that the electors can quite easily show their displeasure.""The leaders of the major parties would be reminded that the electors can quite easily show their displeasure."
Asked if there was a danger of damaging democracy, he said: "There is nothing wrong with the House of Commons. The institution is sound. It is in good order.Asked if there was a danger of damaging democracy, he said: "There is nothing wrong with the House of Commons. The institution is sound. It is in good order.
"What is wrong is that the people who are currently in it are misbehaving. They need a pretty powerful shot across their bows.""What is wrong is that the people who are currently in it are misbehaving. They need a pretty powerful shot across their bows."
'Welfare junkies''Welfare junkies'
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lord Tebbit said Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs had behaved "like welfare junkies" addicted to abusing their Commons expenses.In an interview with the Daily Mail, Lord Tebbit said Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour MPs had behaved "like welfare junkies" addicted to abusing their Commons expenses.
He told the newspaper: "People could vote green, they could vote for all sorts of wider people or they could choose not to vote at all."He told the newspaper: "People could vote green, they could vote for all sorts of wider people or they could choose not to vote at all."
He said the only message politicians understood was when voters refused to back them.He said the only message politicians understood was when voters refused to back them.
Lord Tebbit was one of Lady Thatcher's closest supporters during her time in Downing Street and remains one of the leading voices on the Eurosceptic right wing of the Conservative Party.Lord Tebbit was one of Lady Thatcher's closest supporters during her time in Downing Street and remains one of the leading voices on the Eurosceptic right wing of the Conservative Party.
The Daily Telegraph publishes what it calls the most extravagant claims published yet in its series of stories based on leaked MPs' receipts, including the cost of swimming pool maintenance claimed by eight Tory MPs.The Daily Telegraph publishes what it calls the most extravagant claims published yet in its series of stories based on leaked MPs' receipts, including the cost of swimming pool maintenance claimed by eight Tory MPs.
The Telegraph has already published claims made by Labour and Conservative frontbenchers in recent days - after details of all 646 MPs' claims were leaked.The Telegraph has already published claims made by Labour and Conservative frontbenchers in recent days - after details of all 646 MPs' claims were leaked.
There is a wider range of smaller parties standing at this year's European poll than ever before, including new parties such as the pan-European Libertas, which wants wholesale reform of the EU, the trade-union backed NO2EU, and the Jury Team, which has selected candidates through text and e-mail votes.There is a wider range of smaller parties standing at this year's European poll than ever before, including new parties such as the pan-European Libertas, which wants wholesale reform of the EU, the trade-union backed NO2EU, and the Jury Team, which has selected candidates through text and e-mail votes.
There are also more established parties such as UKIP, the Greens, the English Democrats, the Christian Peoples Alliance and the BNP.There are also more established parties such as UKIP, the Greens, the English Democrats, the Christian Peoples Alliance and the BNP.