DAVID CAMERON’S election strategist is planning a covert campaign to target UK Independence party councillors and has suggested that the Home Office’s scheme for “go home” vans targeting illegal immigrants is flawed and has backfired.

Lynton Crosby, the Conservative party’s campaign chief, wants to launch a “below-the-radar” operation to undermine UKIP politicians by catching them making embarrassing comments.

He plans to monitor every council meeting attended by UKIP members and to launch an in-depth investigation into all 139 of the party’s newly elected councillors.

Crosby appears to be considering using third parties to assist and brief the press and has warned that the plan will be wrecked if anyone finds out the Tories are behind it.

In a further embarrassment for the prime minister, the