UKIP MEP defects to Tories
The MEP Marta Andreasen has defected from the UK Independence Party to the Conservatives, saying it was partly due to UKIP leader not deciding to stand in the upcoming Eastleigh by-election.
Fact file: Who is Marta Andreasen?
- Marta Andreasen was elected as a member of the European Parliament for United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) in 2009.
- In 2002, the Argentine-born Spanish accountant was employed by the European Commission as Chief Accountant and raised concerns about the commission's accounting system.
- According to her website, Andreasen felt the commission's accounting system left the commission vulnerable to potential fraud.
- Andreasen called for party leader Nigel Farage to resign after UKIP's council election performances in 2011.
- Earlier this month Andreasen threatened to quit the party and called Farage a "Stalinist dictator" in an interview with LondonlovesBusiness.com.
- She defected to the Conservatives today.
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