Top Tory switches to UKIP

Jan 12 2007 By Adam Smith, Birmingham Mail

A LEADING Conservative whose father was a Birmingham lord mayor has defected to the UK Independence Party.

Alan Blumenthal, a former councillor and general election candidate, has been involved in local Conservative politics since he delivered leaflets for his father, Harold, in the 1960s.

He said: "I am becoming a member of UKIP because I have not changed one bit but the Conservatives have changed beyond recognition.

"I, like many Conservatives, cannot bring myself to vote for a party that I do not feel part of anymore.

"It is a massive decision for me because I have spent all my life in Conservative politics, my father and great uncle were Conservative lord mayors and I was a Tory councillor.

"I feel very angry that there was no party for me to vote for in the council elections but when I saw what UKIP are offering I thought I would join."

Anti-Europe UKIP is the only mainstream political party in Britain that has its headquarters in Birmingham and Mr Blumenthal is considering standing at the next general election.

And he expects many Conservatives will also be jumping ship over the next few years.

"I used to be a conviction politician when I was a Conservative but these days all David Cameron does is what he thinks will get him votes, he does not seem to believe in a thing," he said.

"Margaret Thatcher took tough decisions whether they would get votes or not and most of the time she was right."

Alan runs the family business Suits Plus.

He added: "Everyday this Government and Europe make my life harder as a businessman so I wanted to join a party that is doing something about that."

Mike Nattrass, UKIP MEP for the West Midlands region and former deputy leader of the party, said he was delighted with the arrival of Mr Bluementhal.

"It is wonderful that such a leading member of the Conservative movement in Birmingham has decided to join UKIP," he said.