Ukip has emailed all its members asking for cash to pay back thousands of pounds spent by the Tories on promoting ex-Conservative MP Mark Reckless.

Earlier this week on KentOnline, we revealed the Rochester and Strood Constituency Conservative Association has lodged a claim against the MP, saying he signed off expenditure for campaign literature up to two days before defecting to Ukip on September 27.

They say they had no alternative but to throw away the campaign leaflets.

A claim form was lodged at the small claims court at the County Court in Chatham this week and also names Mr Reckless’s agent and Medway councillor Chris Irvine, who also left the party.

Both were elected as Ukip candidates on November 20.

The notice could take up to 10 days to be served on the pair, but Conservative members say unless the bill – which comes to come to more than £3,000 – is settled, the party will take the matter to court.

The papers, which have been leaked to KentOnline, name Mr Reckless and Cllr Irvine as the defendants and the association is trying to claim £3,012, back from the pair, as well as £185 court costs.

When the story broke, Mr Reckless hit back by saying: “The people of Rochester and Strood have made their decision at the ballot box and this would appear to be sour grapes from the Conservatives.”

However, the next day, Ukip emailed all its members asking them to help pay the bill and the party also set up a donation page on its website.

The email sent out to all its members, states: “It is almost Christmas: a time for caring, reflection, and forgiveness.

“I appreciate therefore that now is probably not the best time to be talking to you about party politics, but before we take some time off with our families and loved ones this year, I have a very quick update for you.

“You may have noticed that sadly, the spirit of goodwill has not permeated the Conservative Party, which says it is now suing me and my election agent for around £3,000, which they apparently spent on general election campaign leaflets before I resigned my seat in parliament to seek the people’s verdict in a by-election.

“And while the voters opted for UKIP, the Tories still don’t want to accept that.

“This legal action, therefore, is a slap in the face for the people of Rochester and Strood who elected me as their MP.

“It’s a slap in the face for democracy

They lost, and they’re sour about it. And now they’re using nasty party tactics to try to drag me to court and hurt us in the pocket.

“So today, I’m asking for your help to deal with the legal action.

“On November 20th, you helped me establish a 7.3% majority over the Tories. Would you be willing to express your support for us and the voters of “Rochester and Strood, by giving just £7.30 to help me deal with this sour grapes legal challenge?

“If there is anything left over after dealing with this, then we will put it into our fighting fund for us to hold Rochester and Strood at the general election.

"Thank you for your continued support, and Merry Christmas, Mark Reckless.”

When KentOnline called Ukip’s press office a spokesman confirmed they had sent an email out to all members asking them to help.

One member was outraged he’d been asked to contribute.

Aftab Baig, said: “Mark Reckless is now begging for £3k.

“I find it disgraceful that a man of his wealth is begging people to pay for his own mess.

“Is this the best we can really do?

“I supported him to fight for us, but now regret it, given how he isn’t prepared to fight or pay it himself for a decision he made.”

Mr Reckless has not yet responded to our request for a comment on the matter.