Tory councillors defect to UKIP

Since a senior Tory party member described party activists as "swivel-eyed loons" six Conservative councillors have quit the party, two of them defected to UKIP.

Councillor Suzanne Evans of Merton Borough Council is one of those who defected to UKIP. She told the Today programme that the insult was not the deciding factor in why she left, but was certainly a "considering factor". She described trying to change the party from within as like "walking through treacle", adding that she feels the Conservative Party is "becoming less conservative".

Bedfordshire councillor Richard Stay chose not to defect, saying that not everybody will agree with everything the party puts forward, but "fighting a corner" or a point of view "from within the party" is the best way to get the result you want. He added that it's "hardly surprising" that the party can't get all of its policies through because of the coalition.

First broadcast on the Today programme on Saturday 25 May.