Tories threaten potential defectors with character assassination

The Conservative Party have issued a warning to any Tories thinking of defecting to UKIP that they will face character assassination by the whips.

The openness of the threat to orchestrate a smear campaign against anyone defecting to UKIP is quite unprecedented and shows how desperate the Tories are to stem the tide of defections. It might put off some people but in reality it is likely to convince wavering defectors that the Tories really are the nasty party.