Shropshire Star

Shrewsbury Conservative candidate Daniel Kawczynski would not serve as minister in Ukip coalition

Daniel Kawczynski today said he would refuse to serve as a minister in a government that included Ukip.

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The Conservative candidate in the Shrewsbury & Atcham constituency, said he disagreed with "the policies and the ethos" of Nigel Farage's party.

He said that he would decline the opportunity to serve in a government role should the two parties join together.

Instead, he would take a seat as a Conservative MP on the back benches.

Mr Kawczynski also said he would expect the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs to vote on any coalition – and that he would vote against partnering with Ukip.

He has previously been parliamentary private secretary to the Welsh Secretary, and parliamentary private secretary to the Agriculture Minister.

But Mr Kawczynski said: "I would not sit in a Conservative-led government if Ukip were part of that coalition.

"If you wish to object to a government's coalition partner, you do not sit in it as you are then bound by collective responsibility.

"I would be concerned if there was any consideration of a coalition with Ukip, because of some of the views that they hold."

Mr Kawczynski follows Nicky Morgan in speaking out against such a coalition with the Conservatives. The Education Secretary suggested that ministers currently in government might refuse to continue their roles within a formal arrangement with Ukip.

Mr Kawczynski added: "I am fighting for a Conservative government in the next election. I hope we have a majority because it would be the nest outcome for the UK.

"If we were a minority government then I would ask that we consider a coalition with the Liberal Democrats and the Democratic Unionist Party. That is perfectly fine. But I would be very unhappy with any involvement with Ukip."

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