HARWICH and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin says he will campaign to stop Douglas Carswell becoming UKIP’s first elected MP.

It had been claimed a dozen Tory MPs had privately pledged not to actively oppose Mr Carswell, who resigned as Clacton’s MP after defecting from the Conservatives to UKIP last month.

He will stand in the Clacton by-election on October 9.

However, Mr Jenkin has signalled he will actively support whoever was selected at last night’s open primary to run as the Tories.