Labour's Deputy Leader in the European Parliament, Richard Corbett, has described Bob Spink's defection to UKIP as further proof that it is a party of "political malcontents and extremists."

Richard said: "By welcoming Bob Spink, a month after he was kicked out by the Tories, UKIP show that they will take anyone. Spink joins other luminaries including convicted fraudster Ashley Mote, and Robert Kilroy-Silk. UKIP seem intent on creating a  motley crew of political malcontents that nobody else wants. With his extreme views on immigration I imagine Spink will be more than at home as a member of UKIP.

"It doesn't look like UKIP will have the seat for long - the UKIP candidate in Castle Point got just 7% of the vote in the 2005 General Election and that was still one of the party's best results. This was always going to be the only way that UKIP would get an MP. They  may now have a seat in the Commons - but they've only got it on loan."

Spink's decision will also cause concern for the Conservative Party, with the issue of Europe again returning to haunt them.

Richard added: "The news also makes a complete mockery of David Cameron's recent claims the Conservatives are finally united on Europe. His hollow posturing has been shown up. There are several other Tory MPs who are members of the Better Off Out campaign and share exactly the same beliefs as Spink and could well follow him out of the Conservative Party."//

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more on the opposition

• Bob Spink ran an advertisement in a newspaper headlined "What bit of 'send them back' don't you understand Mr Blair?" during the 2005 election campaign

• Ashley Mote, who was elected as a UKIP MEP, was convicted of benefit fraud in September 2008

• Sir Nicholas Winterton, Ann Winterton, Philip Hollobone, Philip Davies, Douglas Carswell and Peter Bone are the current Conservative MPs who are members of the anti-EU group Better Off Out

more information

Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP

• phone 0113 245 8987
• e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk