UKIP candidate really a right wing Conservative says Totnes Lib Dem

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Oct 2004

Commenting on the decision by the UKIP to select their leader Roger Knapman to contest the Totnes Constituency at the next General Election, Totnes Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, Mike Treleaven, said:

'It is no surprise to me that the UKIP have chosen a high profile candidate to stand in Totnes. What we have here is an ex Conservative M.P. and party whip standing for what is, in effect, a second Conservative Party. We have Michael Howard's pro EU party and Roger Knapman's anti EU party.'

He continued:

' Voters should be aware that apart from the issue of Europe there is little difference between the UKIP and the right wing of the Conservative Party. The UKIP is in favour of the private sector delivering health care and pensions, it is in favour of selective education, vouchers and top up fees and would leave the free market to tackle pollution.

For any anti EU voters who might otherwise share Liberal Democrat or Labour values, the UKIP offers nothing more than strongly Conservative ideals. If UKIP M.P.s were to be elected you would see them side with the Conservative Party on virtually every issue except Europe.'