Owen Paterson on UKIP defection

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson has branded his potential defection to Ukip as "nonsense".

The former Environment Secretary had been suggested in a report in a national national as one of ten Conservative targets Ukip leader Nigel Farage may approach to defect to the party after Tory MP Douglas Carswell made the move earlier this week.

But in response to the possible move, Mr Paterson said: "It's absolutely nonsense.

"Only the Conservative party can deliver a referendum, and it is nonsense to think otherwise."

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Mr Paterson said he could not comment on whether he had been approached by UKIP members as he was unaware of who had contacted him because of limited signal and availability on his phone while attending the World Equestrian Games in France.

He tweeted from the event saying: "Won't be answering media requests (am at World Equestrian Games) but the only way of securing an EU referendum is to vote Conservative."

The news comes after Mr Carswell, MP for Clacton, left the Conservative party claiming Prime Minister David Cameron was not serious about change with regards to the EU.

Mr Farage has since claimed many more MPs were "considering their options" and would be watching the forthcoming by-election in Clacton closely.

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But the defection has caused consternation in the Ukip ranks as the man originally chosen as the party's candidate in Clacton today attackedMr Carswell for "riding roughshod" over him.

Roger Lord said he will fight Mr Carswell to be the UKIP candidate in the forthcoming by-election, which is expected to be held on October 9.

Mr Lord said he had been chosen as UKIP's candidate just three weeks ago and would not go quietly. He said: "I've been fighting UKIP's cause since 1997. I've worked hard for that – now I'm standing up for everybody who's going to be ridden roughshod by the establishment.

"Now we're going to take on the establishment. If we don't get the answers down here in Clacton we're going to rip his throat out. Simple as that."

The Prime Minister has since described Mr Carswell's decision to defect to Ukip as "regrettable".