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Ukip's Mark Reckless wins Rochester and Strood by-election

Ukip's Mark Reckless wins the Rochester and Strood by-election with 16,867 votes, and a slim majority of 2,920 votes over the Conservatives.

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Mark Reckless 'sore' over immigration 'policy change'

Ukip newest MP Mark Reckless is greeted by Commons Speaker John Bercow Credit: PA Wire

Ukip's latest MP Mark Reckless has suggested his party's policy was "changed" in the wake of a row over comments he made about European migrants in a pre-election hustings.

Mr Reckless said he was in "very close contact" with Ukip leader Nigel Farage before the ITV hustings on Wednesday, the day before the poll, when opponents argued that he appeared to suggest European Union migrants could be asked to leave if the UK quit the alliance.

The party's second MP told the Times newspaper:

Until Nigel changed it on Wednesday, the policy of the party was everyone can stay for the transitional period, no doubt about that, that there would then be a permanent arrangement which would be part of the EU negotiation.

The policy changed on Wednesday and I'm a bit sore about how I sort of came out of that, because I don't actually think I said I was only talking about welcoming people of particular circumstances.

I've always thought we should allow people to stay permanently, regardless, because that's the right thing to do by them and it's also the right thing for our party in terms of how we want to look to the country.

– Mark Reckless MP

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Ukip's Mark Reckless wins Rochester and Strood by-election

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