// One of Britain's wealthiest men, Paul Sykes, has pledged to do "whatever it takes" to ensure Nigel Farage's UK Independence party triumphs in next year's elections to the European parliament.
The Eurosceptic businessman, a former Conservative Party backer, is promising to bankroll Ukip's campaign in an election in which it is already expected to do well.
His intervention will heighten concerns in the Tory ranks that the seemingly inexorable rise of Ukip could scupper any hopes they have of securing an outright majority in the 2015 general election. //
If the Conservatives do badly in the Euro elections, and UKiP do well, then there will be the temptation for the Conservative Party to move rightwards. A lot of MPs worried they may lose their jobs in 2015 may decide their best option is to give Dave and George the heave oh.