Conservative MP Mark Reckless is defecting to Ukip, it was revealed today.
The MP for Rochester and Strood announced the move at the Ukip party conference in Doncaster.
The 43-year-old politician is reported to have said the decision was "made from optimism, born of belief Britain can be better".
He claimed the Conservative leadership was "part of the problem that is holding our country back", adding that voters felt "ripped off and lied to".
Party supporters began chanting "Ukip, Ukip" when he made the announcement, according to reports.
Commenting on the government's immigration policies, Mr Reckless said constituents needed to believe that Britain had control over who comes into the country and in what numbers, adding: "At the moment we do not have any sense of that."
He continued: "I promise to cut immigration while treating people fairly and humanely, I cannot keep that promise as a Conservative, I can keep it as Ukip."
"The insanity of our immigration rules means that a second generation Briton wanting to bring granny over for a wedding, still less if they want to get married to someone from abroad themselves, will face huge difficulties, yet they will see an open door to immigration to anyone from the European Union."
Mr Reckless announced that he will quit as an MP so he can trigger a by-election and fight the Kent seat as a Ukip candidate.
He told activists he answered to his constituents and wanted to seek their permission to change allegiance.
"They are the boss and if I am to seek to represent them under different colours, I hope in a party that is closer to their values, then I shall ask their permission," he said.
