I am delighted, but not totally surprised, to learn that UKIP MEP David Campbell Bannerman has jumped ship and rejoined Conservatives.

He was a very decent candidate during the Euro Elections in 2009 when I was the Conservative Eastern Region Press Officer and did not resort to lies and underhand tactics to massage his ego which I observed from another rival candidate.

David failed to become UKIP’s leader last year, but  says he has returned to the Tory fold because “I have been pleased with the robust stance taken by David Cameron and Conservative MEPs over the EU budget negotiations and I believe that it is Conservative MEPs who are working hard to defend Britain’s interests.”

I imagine there are other reasons too based on how he perceives UKIP’s future, the way it is led and its struggle to win other seats in the UK. His biggest challenge now is to convince Conservative supporters that they want him as their MEP so his name is placed firmly at the top of the candidates’ list for the next Euro Election which uses proportional representation.