Ukip's existing general election candidate in Clacton-on-Sea said he had no intention of standing aside for the Conservative defector Douglas Carswell – and even said that the Tories had been making overtures to him.

Roger Lord, a former Conservative candidate turned Ukip member, said that the announcement by Carswell "was a complete surprise to me". He said that he had first heard about the news whilst at work, when he was called.

"There are some basic courtesies that one expects. Douglas Carswell could at least have called me an hour before his announcement," Lord said.

"It's pretty arrogant of Douglas Carswell to assume that the voters and the electorate are like sheep and they will just go along with this.

"I genuinely hope that the national executive of Ukip will hear me out. For starters though It's pure bad manners for someone from Ukip who I have never met to just ring me up and tell me to shut up.

"Nigel Farage also contacted me and I had a word with him. I have known him since 1997 and have stuck with him but I do have a few options open. I have been contacted by a prominent Conservative Eurosceptic who I have known for a long time and he said that he would back me 100%.

"A bottom line though is that I would like a fair hearing and to stand on a stage with Douglas Carswell to put my side of the story. I have stood in several general elections and I have stood on platforms with a good many MPs and I know that I can hold my own.

"After I was selected I had already formed campaign team, which actually includes campaign members who are former supporters of Douglas Carswell. They have already said to me that they are not going to support him."

Ukip's party secretary said: "Roger Lord is not now, nor has he ever been the byelection candidate for Clacton. The National Executive Committee of the Party have voted to adopt Douglas Carswell as the candidate for the upcoming byelection. Roger Lord is mistaken in his belief that he is the candidate and he can best serve the party's and the county's interests by standing behind the decision of the NEC."