CLACTON MP Douglas Carswell welcomed the election of UKIP’s newest MP – and snapped up the chance to Tweet a picture of them both in the Commons.

Mark Reckless won the Rochester and Strood byelection with a majority of 2,920 in the early hours of Friday last week.

He had followed Mr Carswell’s lead by resigning his seat after defecting from the Conservatives to UKIP – triggering a by-election.

Mr Carswell was UKIP’s only MP following his election on October 9.

He was joined on the opposition benches in the House of Commons by his new colleague for the first time on Friday, just hours after the election.

“I never felt lonely in Parliament because I knew I had Clacton behind me,” said Mr Carswell.

“But it is good to have a colleague sitting next to me.

“The Rochester result shows it’s not just Clacton that wants change – the whole country is calling out for change.”

Mr Carswell said he had been to Rochester eight times during the by-election campaign, but denied neglecting his own constituency.

“I have been working furiously in my Clacton office,” he said. “I have had more casework and more events than ever before – I’ve been busier in the constituency than ever and I’m loving it.”

Their first act together in Parliament was to vote with Labour in favour of undoing Andrew Lansley’s NHS reforms.