A Labour councillor on Ashford Borough Council has left her party and will be supporting Ukip in the run up to the general election.

Harriet Yeo, who was chairman of Labour's ruling body between 2012 and 2013, has not officially joined Nigel Farage's party but will back them in the May elections, according to a report in The Telegraph this afternoon.

A Labour spokesman has this evening told Kent Online Mrs Yeo was removed from her position as leader of Ashford's Labour group and would not have been standing for the party in May.

The spokesman said: "Last week, Harriet Yeo was removed as Labour group leader of Ashford council for non-attendance at council meetings and a failure undertake council casework.

"She was deselected as a candidate for the 2015 local elections last night and she has now left the Labour Party.

“The vast majority of the Labour Party are united behind our position on Europe, believing Britain's best interests are served by staying in a reformed EU and not sleepwalking towards an exit, which would cost British jobs and influence.

“The truth is Ukip is a party of Tory people, Tory policies and Tory money: they are more Tory than the Tories.”

Her daughter, Angharad Yeo, herself a Ukip member, tweeted to say how pleased she was with the move.

She said: "Pleased that mummsy #harrietyeo will be supporting #ukip in the #2015election."

Mr Farage tweeted: "I'm delighted Ukip can now count upon the support of Harriet Yeo, former Labour National Executive Committee member."

Ashford Borough Council did have five Labour members but Mrs Yeo's departure takes their total down to four.

The news of Mrs Yeo's move comes the same day as the Guardian reports a recording made of Brendan Chilton, who is standing as a Labour parliamentary candidate in Ashford, claiming the party 'could be wiped out in parts of Kent' as working class voters drift to Ukip.

Mrs Yeo, who lives in Kingsnorth, Ashford, represents the Norman ward and sits on the planning and overview and scrutiny committees as well as being a member of the Joint Transportation Board.

She also stood as Labour's representative in the election for Kent's first police and crime commissioner in 2012, which was won by independent candidate Ann Barnes.

Ashford Borough Council leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson (Con) issued a statement saying: "This is a defection caused by splits in the Ashford Labour party rather than any principled political stand. Conservatives will carry on working for the people of Ashford."