Two councillors on Tendring District Council, which covers the town of Clacton, have followed MP Douglas Carswell from the Conservatives to UKIP. The news will come as a boost to the party as they hope to see their first ever MP elected to parliament early next month.

Councillor Dawn Skeels, who represents Little Clacton and Weeley ward, and Councillor Michael Skeels, who represents St Johns Ward, both said that they decided to follow Douglas as they believe he has been a good local MP.

Cllr Dawn Skeels added that Tories increasingly seem like the “private property” of people like Matthew Parris. She said:

“We have decided to make the change with Douglas. We both feel like the Conservative Party is increasingly the private property of people like Matthew Parris, rather than local people. Douglas has always been a brilliant MP and we are proud to join him in UKIP.”

Cllr Michael also called for more Conservatives to join them and Douglas Carswell, saying: “We feel strongly that this is the right thing to do. We hope that more Conservative Councillors follow us and Douglas to UKIP, the only party that looks out for local people.”

Carswell, who joined UKIP two weeks ago and immediately announced he would resign his seat to fight a by-election, said: “We are making this change together. It’s wonderful to have Dawn and Mick’s support.”

Times columnist and former Conservative MP Matthew Parris provoked outrage last weekend when he wrote that the Conservative Party should “turn its back” on places like Clacton, and instead focus on young, urban centres.

Yesterday, Breitbart London reported that dozens of former Conservative voters in Clacton have now indicated they will back UKIP following Parris’ article.