I attempted, during this pre-nomination weekend just past, to do a deal with the Tories in Hove.

This constituency, for which Jenny Langston (Conservative) and I (UK Independence Party) are standing, is a marginal seat and the UKIP almost certainly will hold the balance of power.

If I stand and I split the Tory vote, the Tories, I am very sad to say, will only have themselves to blame if they lose.

At our meeting at Richard's Brasserie, I told Jenny of my anxiety of standing and letting Labour (who will surrender our last remaining vestiges of nationhood within the term of the next Parliament) back in. I asked her how she thought I could help.

Of course she replied "stand down". I said I was prepared to do this, provided she gave me publicly a firm, clear and unequivocal commitment to defend the British sovereign right of self-government to the last ditch. No "ifs" no "buts".

A Churchillian commitment.

But commitment came there none. Fine words (you'll find them in the Tory Manifesto) but no commitment; and you won't get such a commitment from any Tory. They'll be in Europe before John Prescott has thrown another punch.

I do believe that Jenny herself is a genuine patriot and an honest person and it hurts me to stand against her but stand I will. For me my country comes before any Party.

-Richard Franklin, UK Independence Party candidate for Hove