Douglas Carswell.

TORY SHOCK: Ukip defection piles pressure on Cameron

DAVID Cameron was last night battling to stop a new Tory rift opening up over Europe after one of his MPs defected to the UK Independence Party. Macer Hall - Express.

Carswell's UKIP defection has sent shockwaves through the Tory party[PA/GETTY]

In a move that shocked Westminster, Douglas Carswell quit the Conservatives and stood down as MP for Clacton in Essex, triggering a by-election. Claiming the Tories were “not serious about real change in Europe”, he pledged to fight to regain the seat and become Ukip’s first elected MP. His switch, just as a huge rise in immigration was revealed, was seen as a coup by Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-Brussels party.Mr Farage hinted other Tory MPs could soon follow Mr Carswell into Ukip ranks, saying: “There are others in Westminster having similar thoughts.”Official figures released yesterday showed net migration into Britain – including a surge in arrivals from the EU – hit 243,000.

REMEMBER  - THESE FIGURES ARE JUST THE LEGALS! We have no idea how many illegals (whom Boris would legitimise) have arrived through the not-very-well-guarded back door.