27/09/2014 BBC Weekend News

Another Conservative MP defects to UKIP.

Today I am leaving the Conservative party and joining...

Mark Reckless made the announcement at UKIP's annual conference.

It'll trigger a by-election the party leader hopes they'll win.

He has shown he has given up with the leadership of the Conservative

party, frankly not believing their sincerity.

He has thrown his lot in with us and we will do everything we can to

And in another loss for the Tories, a minister resigns following

As the Conservatives gather for their party conference we'll be

British jets fly their first combat missions over Iraq since MPs backed

And Europe have a commanding lead going

On the eve of the Conservative Party conference, a second Tory MP has

The defection of Mark Reckless follows that of Douglas Carswell

It means there'll now be a by-election in the constituency

The chair of the local Conservatives there said he was

"astonished and disgusted" by Mr Reckless's decision.

And there was further bad news for the Conservatives this evening.

Cabinet Office minister Brooks Newmark said he was leaving the

government after the Sunday Mirror alleged he sent sexually explicit

Our political correspondent Ross Hawkins reports.

I would like you, please, to give a warm welcome to somebody

Nigel Farage had another nasty surprise for Conservatives.

Today, I am leaving the Conservative party...

Once again, a Tory MP defecting to UKIP.

It is a decision that is born of a belief that Britain can be better.

First one Tory defector, now another.

On the eve of the Conservative conference, he poses the question,

how many more to go, how much more damage can UKIP do to

Only one month has passed since UKIP was cheering its first defection

this year, then the Tory backbencher Douglas Carswell decided to resign

I believe I can do more in UKIP to get our country back, to get us out

of the European Union, to cut immigration, to bring in political

reform, to do all the things that I promised with David Cameron as a

Conservative that we would do, but none of those things we have done.

He is now part of this political family.

He has shown he has given up with the leadership of the Conservative

party, frankly not believing their sincerity.

He has thrown his lot in with us and we will do everything we can to

But UKIP's newest recruit will have a tough job winning in

I am very surprised, I know him extremely well and he's probably

one of the last people that I would have thought would do such a thing.

Not surprised, but he will never get my vote.

Prime Minister, are the wheels coming off already?

Not the sort of question David Cameron or anyone else in

his party wanted to hear on arriving for their conference in Birmingham.

I think the surprising thing is Mark says he wants lower taxes,

immigration control, a referendum on Europe, but that is

exactly what we are planning to deliver and so I think this decision

To add to Tory woes, this evening this minister, Brooks

Newmark, resigned over allegations in tomorrow's Sunday Mirrorthat he

has sent sexually explicit images of himself over social media.

It leaves UKIP with plenty to chant about and high hopes that he will

not be the last Tory MP to put a smile on Nigel Farage's face.

Our deputy political editor James Landale is in Birmingham, where

What a way to have to start a conference?

Yes, it is not the way David Cameron would want to study conference. The

resignation of Brooks Newmark is embarrassing but politically not

that important. More significant is the defection of Mark Reckless. It

means that this conference will be overshadowed. There will be a

political parlour game of hunt the next effect. That is talk of another

one coming up. The defection shows the scale of the gap that now exists

between David Cameron and some of his backbenchers, particularly those

on the right. Grumbles that have become -- grumbles that have become

rebellions are now turning into defections. This means that over the

coming weeks, the Conservatives will not be focused on the economy but

Europe and internal division. Two things that are unattractive to all

those floating voters out there that the Tories really need if they are

to win the next election. The slogan for the conference behind me,

securing a better future, what right now the Conservatives are focused on

securing a better tomorrow. Well, away from the resignations,

the Conservatives today pledged to help first-time buyers under

the age of 40 to buy a home if They say they'll build 100,000 new

homes and offer them at 20% This is how party conferences are

meant to start, with a carefully Housing is now a big political

battleground, so David Cameron put on his wellies and went to Didcot to

make the Conservative party's latest We want to build less expensive

homes for young people who work hard to buy, and that means exempting

them from the usual regulations and charges and saying, it is your home,

you have worked hard, you have got to be under 40 to buy it, but it

cannot be bought by foreigners, buy to let landlords or people who

want to turn a quick buck. The Prime Minister says that

if elected he would build 100,000 homes in England at a 20% discount

for first-time buyers. He says that is possible

because they would be built on brownfield sites or places

which had been used previously. The new homes would also be exempt

from some taxes, energy standards and the requirement by some builders

to provide social housing. This is who

the scheme is meant to help. Like thousands of young people,

Rachel Knight is living in the spare rooms

of her partner's parents' house. Saving money, striving to buy

a place of their own. I think there will be a lot of

competition which will ultimately I think as well,

I question if the government were re-elected, how quickly would they

be able to make that possible? Labour has said it would build

200,000 new homes a year by 2020. Today's proposals were welcomed

by the big homebuilders but some questioned the quality

of homes to be built. Will we miss the energy efficiency

standard that is currently built into all new homes

across the country and are people going to be acquiring a substandard

property which they will then have New homes

like these are being built but for many years demand has outstripped

supply, pushing up prices. Frustrated first-time buyers

and their anxious parents are a big slice of the electorate,

so the political parties are trying to outbid each other with

their promises to build. The Conservative party knows

a recovering economy may not be enough to win the election,

which is why they will be desperate to refocus this conference on

the question of what happens next. British fighter jets have flown

their first combat missions over Iraq since Parliament voted to

approve air strikes against Two Tornado aircraft carrying

laser-guided missiles took off from Cyprus on

an operation lasting several hours. Our defence correspondent

Jonathan Beale reports from For RAF pilots,

this is the march to war. We were allowed to film them

as they prepared for their first combat mission

against Islamic State in Iraq. Laserguided bombs

and missiles already loaded and armed with two of the six Tornadoes

based in Cyprus poised to launch This is potentially the first combat

mission for RAF Tornadoes, the first time they have been authorised to

engage targets on the ground. The start

of what could be another long war. As they took off,

there were no details about their mission, no guarantees

they would be firing their weapons, and back in London, there was no

attempt to overstate our role We are one part

of a large international coalition but a crucial part

of that coalition is that it is led by the Iraqi government,

the legitimate government of Iraq We are there to play our part

and help deal with this appalling America is coordinating

and leading this military campaign. Today America released more images

of its latest strikes which they have been carrying out

for more than one month. Britain, whose Tornadoes have

until now only been flying reconnaissance missions, is joining

the fight as the enemy adapts. Those who have flown

on combat missions over Iraq before believe finding targets from

the air will only become harder. With 30,000 fighters hiding in

villages, houses, mixing with the civilian population, it would be

impossible to kill each and every one of them, and history has shown

us that even if we do attack them, This evening

the two Tornado jets returned to The MoD says that no targets were

identified They will be flying more combat

missions but his fight will not With all the sport, here's John

Watson at the BBC Sport Centre. Europe have dominated day two

of the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles to extend their

advantage over the United States. Paul McGinlay's team lead 10-6 going

into tomorrow's singles matches and remain well placed to retain

the trophy. Our sports correspondent Andy Swiss

reports. Another Don, another dinner. The

early-morning air crackling with European confidence and it first it

seemed fully justified. Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson with a record 12

birdies in a winner for most ridiculous quality. Then came the

comeback, the US raced to the next two matches and threatened to draw

level. Until the short of the day. Ian Poulter scrambled a drawing

spellbinding style. The eyes bulged, the fists pumped, the fans loved it

but it was still America's morning. The UDP and players heading into the

afternoon with a slender 1-point lead. They know the pressure is

mounting but can they hold their nerve? The answer was in fact it as

the unheralded players like Victor Dubuisson set about grabbing the

limelight. The more famous names also chipped in, Rory McIlroy

winning with Sergio Garcia. The feel-good factor was back well

America's wilted. They won just half a point in the afternoon as the

hosts seized a commanding lead. Two years ago, the US led 10-6 and lost.

Europe will be hoping to prove miracles only happen once.

Highlights of all today's eight Premier League

games follow this bulletin on BBC One in Match Of The Day,

so if you want to wait to find out what happened then look away now.

Bragging rights were shared in the first Merseyside derby

Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool the lead at Anfield.

But Everton's Phil Jagielka scored with a spectacular strike

It was also derby day in north London.

Nacer Chadli gave Tottenham the lead at the Emirates stadium,

but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's first goal of the season ensured a draw.

Elsewhere, Chelsea remain top of the league

Crystal Palace continued their unbeaten run under

Edin Dzeko scored twice as Manchester City beat Hull 4-2.

England captain Wayne Rooney scored, but was then sent off in Manchester

And second-placed Southampton made it six wins in a row

In the Scottish Premiership there were wins for Dundee United,

Aberdeen, Hamilton, Kilmarnock and Ross County.

Champions Celtic, though, remain fourth after two goals

from on-loan Manchester City striker John Guidetti helped them to

Andy Murray is through to his first final since winning

Wimbledon last year after beating Argentina's Juan Monaco

Murray made a poor start to the match, losing the first set 6-2.

But he fought back to take the second set 6-3

and win nine games in a row, racing through the decider 6-0.

Murray will face Tommy Robredo in tomorrow's final.

And now for some news that may break a million hearts.

The Hollywood actor George Clooney has got married to British human

rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in a star-studded ceremony in Venice.

Arriving at the luxury Aman hotel by water taxi, surrounded by paparazzi,

Clooney waved to the crowds before going inside to end his reign as

The couple are expected to also have a civil ceremony on Monday.

There's more on today's stories on the BBC News Channel,