A UKIP councillor has jumped ship to Labour after claiming his old party is a "spent force".

Jack Parsons was elected on to Tendring Council to represent the St Paul's ward in Clacton earlier this year.

But now he is defecting from Ukip to labour after becoming disillusioned with the party.

"I just feel that Ukip as a national party is a spent force," said Mr Parsons.

"I think the only reason they have purpose at the moment is the High Court judgment over Brexit and the dithering from the Government.

"I don't see them as a governing party or opposition party. I would much rather support the working class, average Joe voter from a more stable footing.

"There are a lot of Ukippers who want a hard Brexit while 48 per cent of the country voted to remain.

"Hard Brexit would be just as unwise. To unite the country we should listen to everyone's point of view and I don't think Ukip have that in mind."

Mr Parson won a by-election triggered by the resignation of Ukip councillor John Mooney in May.

But he says his party has left him feeling "dejected" at both national and local level.

"Since the debacle of Diane James standing down after 18 days in charge and the punch-up at Strasbourg, there have been a couple of things locally as well which I don't want to go into," he said.

"The party presents an image of immaturity and doesn't conduct itself in a professional manner.

"I've become dejected as a result of that.

"I don't regret standing as a Ukip councillor. I still believe in the majority of their policies, but most are very, very similar to Labour.

"There are some fundamental differences though.

"I don't believe in grammar schools and I believe more needs to be done to protect the NHS and GP services .

"For me the only party standing up for working class people and not punching each other in the face in Strasbourg or standing down after 18 days is Labour.

"One of things that does concern me is the new Ukip leader Paul Nuttall is pro privatisation of the NHS. I think that is a drastic mistake. I think the NHS needs help - not selling down the river."

Mr Parsons hopes to be join Labour after formally quitting Ukip.

He will be Clacton's only Labour district councillor.

He decided not to stand down as a councillor and run for re-election as a Labour candidate.

"It's a regret I have, but on balance I wouldn't want to put the cost of a by-election onto the electorate," said Mr Parsons.

"It's a decision I've made and I don't think the tax-payer should foot the bill for that."

He added: "Needless to say I will still be championing the causes of St Paul's until 2019 when no doubt someone else will be elected, although the goalposts will move with the boundary changes so anything could happen."

The defection will leave Ukip with 13 councillors on Tendring Council and Labour with five