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Ex-Tory MP Rod Richards joins UKIP Ex-Tory MP Rod Richards joins UKIP
(about 1 hour later)
Former Tory MP and Welsh Office minister Rod Richards has joined the UK Independence Party, he has confirmed.Former Tory MP and Welsh Office minister Rod Richards has joined the UK Independence Party, he has confirmed.
He said it follows "10 years of frustration watching the country I love going down the pan and the parties in charge seemingly doing nothing about it".He said it follows "10 years of frustration watching the country I love going down the pan and the parties in charge seemingly doing nothing about it".
Mr Richards refused to say whether he will seek the party's candidacy in next year's European Parliament election.Mr Richards refused to say whether he will seek the party's candidacy in next year's European Parliament election.
The current UKIP MEP for Wales John Bufton is standing down in June 2014.The current UKIP MEP for Wales John Bufton is standing down in June 2014.
Mr Richards was MP for Clwyd North West between 1992 and 1997 and was leader of the Tories in the Welsh assembly.Mr Richards was MP for Clwyd North West between 1992 and 1997 and was leader of the Tories in the Welsh assembly.
He told BBC Radio Wales he joined UKIP after becoming disillusioned with the way the mainstream parties were running the country.He told BBC Radio Wales he joined UKIP after becoming disillusioned with the way the mainstream parties were running the country.
"I found more and more I was complaining about it and not doing something about it," he told BBC Radio Wales."I found more and more I was complaining about it and not doing something about it," he told BBC Radio Wales.
"I feel I have to get up and do something. I will give it my best shot.""I feel I have to get up and do something. I will give it my best shot."
He said he believes the UK's membership of the European Union (EU) was "holding us back" and was preventing the country trading with countries such as China and India.He said he believes the UK's membership of the European Union (EU) was "holding us back" and was preventing the country trading with countries such as China and India.
He also claimed that as well as all the "red tape and restrictions", the UK paid "far more into the EU than we receive" and that Welsh businesses were suffering.He also claimed that as well as all the "red tape and restrictions", the UK paid "far more into the EU than we receive" and that Welsh businesses were suffering.
But Mr Richards would not be drawn on whether he wanted to seek UKIP's candidacy in the 2014 European Parliament election.But Mr Richards would not be drawn on whether he wanted to seek UKIP's candidacy in the 2014 European Parliament election.
"I'm a new lad on the block," he said."I'm a new lad on the block," he said.
"I'm getting to know my new friends in UKIP.""I'm getting to know my new friends in UKIP."
He said the matter of candidates was a matter for the party, adding that it was an issue that would be kept confidential within the party.He said the matter of candidates was a matter for the party, adding that it was an issue that would be kept confidential within the party.
"I'm certainly not someone who will only be putting a cross in the box," he added."I'm certainly not someone who will only be putting a cross in the box," he added.
"I shall be an active member.""I shall be an active member."
Meanwhile Vale of Glamorgan councillor Kevin Mahoney has resigned as UKIP's regional organiser for Wales in response to Mr Richards joining the party.