Thanet Conservative councillor defects to UKIP

Thanet Conservative councillor, Chris Wells, has defected to UKIP.

The leader of Thanet Conservatives, Cllr Bob Bayford, said it was "surprising and disappointing" because Cllr Wells had received considerable support from the Tories. Cllr Wells said:

I have become increasingly disillusioned with the direction of the Conservative party under David Cameron, and feel that locally UKIP now offer the best potential for positive change in Thanet.

South Thanet is the seat that Nigel Farage will be contesting in next year's general election and is naturally one of UKIP's top target seats along with the neighbouring North Thanet seat. Cllr Wells will become UKIP's third councillor on Thanet District Council.