UKIP has lost control of its flagship Thanet Council, South East England, after a string of resignations.
Councilor Jeff Elenor has resigned from the party today, joining another four councillors who were elected in May but left to form the Democratic Independent Group in September over the council’s handling of the sale of an airport close to the town. Mr Elenor joins Beverly Martin, Helen Smith, Ash Ashbee and Konnor Collins in the breakaway Democratic Independent Group operating in Thanet Council, reports Kent Online.
As reported previously by Breitbart London, former RAF airbase Manston Airport was a key election issue for the area. The leader of the council has been in talks with an American firm to buy Manston from its present owners who propose to close the site and redevelop it as homes.
Talks over the deal collapsed at the weekend as U.S. company RiverOak accused the UKIP leader of the council of “one roadblock after another in front of us” in their attempt to buy the site.
UKIP councillors in Thanet were elected on a promise to prevent the closure of the airport and the five councillors – whose departures have now eroded UKIP’s presence in the council chamber to less than a controlling majority – have cited a lack of confidence in the leadership of the council over the issue.