Douglas Carswell Joins Ukip: Twitter Reacts to 'Establishment Figure Who Wants Nigel Farage's Job'

Twitter reacted to Douglas Carswell dropping a bombshell on David Cameron by defecting to Ukip

Twitter wasted no time in going off-message as Nigel Farage revelled in Ukip's biggest coup yet with the defection of Douglas Carswell from the Conserative party.

Users of the social website mischievously speculated Carswell could find himself as the leader of Ukip inside a year.

Others reminded the former Tory - who is a prominent online presence - of his own expenses scandal experience.

Meanwhile, Carswell's relatively young age of 43 seemed a surprise to some to Twitter, who apparently thought Ukip supporters all had to be aged.

Here's is a round-up of the reaction to Carswell's bombshell for David Cameron. The prime minister has yet to take to Twitter with his own take on the matter.

"I want to shake up Westminster clique," says ex-public schoolboy & former corporate development manager @DouglasCarswell MP #UKIP
— Tim Lezard (@TolpuddleTim) August 28, 2014

How long will it be until Nigel Farage throws Douglas Carswell out of UKIP in order to remain unopposed leader?
— Tom Puddy (@TomPuddy) August 28, 2014

So Douglas Carswell beats Farage to become UKIP's first MP - no doubt seeking to keep the flame of Thatcherism alive like his new leader.
— Chuka Umunna (@ChukaUmunna) August 28, 2014

The biggest surprise this morning is the revelation that Douglas Carswell is apparently only 43.
— Steven Thomas (@TheStevenThomas) August 28, 2014

'Only UKIP can shake up Westminster'?? But it's same-old, same-old when it comes to Carswell's expenses: http://t.co/kfx2LoRYLG
— BathLabour (@BathLabourParty) August 28, 2014

Westminster is choking on its taxpayer funded breakfasts this morning. #douglascarswell
— Liar MPs (@LiarMPs) August 28, 2014

Meanwhile, Tory donor and pollster Lord Ashcroft had his eye on how Carswell's defection went down with the bookies.

Clacton by-election odds since @DouglasCarswell has resigned 1/3 UKIP 5/2 Cons 10/1 Lab 100/1 LD #firstukipmp?
— Lord Ashcroft (@LordAshcroft) August 28, 2014

As for Cameron, the last tweet he wrote contained his thoughts on the acting of the late showbiz veteran Richard Attenborough.

His acting in "Brighton Rock" was brilliant, his directing of "Gandhi" was stunning - Richard Attenborough was one of the greats of cinema.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) August 24, 2014