:00:00. > :00:14.ended. And
:00:15. > :00:16.The MP for Rochester and Strood Mark Reckless, has today announced
:00:17. > :00:21.that he's leaving the Conservative Party to join TKIP
:00:22. > :00:31.at the UKIP party conferencd in Doncaster.
:00:32. > :00:33.It is a decision I make from optimism.
:00:34. > :00:37.A decision that is born of belief that Britain can be better
:00:38. > :00:42.and of my knowledge of how the Westminster parties hold us back,
:00:43. > :00:51.but also of my belief in the fresh start UKIP offdrs.
:00:52. > :00:55.This was the reaction in his constituency today.
:00:56. > :00:59.and he is probably one of the last people
:01:00. > :01:02.I would have thought would do such a thing as th`t.
:01:03. > :01:06.I think at the end of the day
:01:07. > :01:08.I am very surprised and a little sad.
:01:09. > :01:10.I deeply disapprove of both the Conservative party
:01:11. > :01:16.and UKIP, so I am not reallx very bothered which of them have him
:01:17. > :01:19.Well, our political reporter Louise Stewart joins us now.
:01:20. > :01:34.Was this? That a surprising was this?
:01:35. > :01:39.People in the constituency where taken by surprise. There have been
:01:40. > :01:42.rumours circulating Westminster for some time that he might defdct
:01:43. > :01:46.because he is very good fridnds with the MP who defected a coupld of
:01:47. > :01:52.weeks ago. I asked him a cotple of weeks ago and he denied it `nd in a
:01:53. > :01:56.statement, his Conservative Party Chairman said today that he ask him
:01:57. > :02:01.48 hours ago and he gave assurances that he was not looking to defect.
:02:02. > :02:04.One of the most remarkable things is that UKIP have now claimed to
:02:05. > :02:08.conservatives and nobody has known about it until it has happened.
:02:09. > :02:15.How damaging is this? Very. Mark reckless has triggered a
:02:16. > :02:20.by`election in his constitudncy He has a comfortable majority of around
:02:21. > :02:24.10,000. UKIP could have thehr 1st MPs at Westminster in a couple
:02:25. > :02:27.weeks, which would be a hugd coup for Nigel Farage but damaging for
:02:28. > :02:34.David Cameron. The Catholic Bishop of Brighton has
:02:35. > :02:38.resigned. In a statement, the Bishop, whose diocese covers for the
:02:39. > :02:42.grants, said he had been unfaithful to his promises as a Catholhc priest
:02:43. > :02:45.but said his actions not illegal and did not involve a minor.
:02:46. > :02:47.A demonstration in support of lorry drivers,
:02:48. > :02:49.which claimed it would blockade the Port of Dover,
:02:50. > :02:50.has passed peacefully, according to police.
:02:51. > :02:52.Around 50 people attended the march near the port,
:02:53. > :02:56.due to a row over migrants trying to cross the channel from Calahs.
:02:57. > :03:00.But many of those involved had come for political reasons
:03:01. > :03:14.and were not lorry drivers themselves.
:03:15. > :03:20.There were jubilant scenes on Eastbourne's fire damaged pier
:03:21. > :03:22.today, as it re`opened to the publhc.
:03:23. > :03:24.The main ballroom of the listed Victorian strtcture
:03:25. > :03:30.But almost two months on, traders have moved back in and hundreds
:03:31. > :03:46.It is right for the traders, but also the public, who have got a
:03:47. > :03:50.tremendous interest in what happened and wanted to see what work is
:03:51. > :03:52.taking place and also the d`mage. As they go down the walkways, they will
:03:53. > :03:54.see that. Let's take a look at what the
:03:55. > :03:57.weather has in store. Well, a pleasant day today
:03:58. > :04:00.and another one to come tomorrow. we are going to have varying amounts
:04:01. > :04:03.of cloud but plenty
:04:04. > :04:05.of clear spells as well, Fairly mild, maybe a little
:04:06. > :04:13.more chilly than last night. and some rather impressive
:04:14. > :04:23.temperatures, As we head into the beginning
:04:24. > :04:32.of next week, there is the threat of showdrs on
:04:33. > :04:34.Monday afternoon and Wednesday, but things settle down towards the
:04:35. > :04:52.end of the week A reminder of the top story this
:04:53. > :04:55.evening, Mark Reckless has `nnounced he is leaving the Conservathve party
:04:56. > :04:57.to join UKIP. You can see more on that story
:04:58. > :05:20.tomorrow. Good evening. A stagnant September
:05:21. > :05:26.weather story continues. Today has been no exception. Rather quiet but
:05:27. > :05:29.fairly cloudy. There have been some breaks across East Anglia with
:05:30. > :05:33.temperatures up to 22 this afternoon. We could see some clearer
:05:34. > :05:40.skies down into the south-east through this evening. Predominantly
:05:41. > :05:44.cloudy and breezy into the North West with a weak weather front
:05:45. > :05:49.pushing in. There could be brain in Western slopes of Scotland. -- there
:05:50. > :05:54.could be rain. Temperatures holding in double figures elsewhere. We
:05:55. > :05:55.start tomorrow with a misty and murky start in the