Family lawyer Elizabeth Jones will fight the Dartford seat for UKIP at the next general election.

She is the first female candidate to stand for any political party in the Dartford seat for the last 18 years, and the first for a major party since Margaret Thatcher in 1951.

Ms Jones, who lived and worked in the Dartford area for eight years, was selected ahead of four other contenders.

She will launch her campaign to win over Dartford’s voters in the coming weeks.

She said: “I am so honoured to be given the chance to represent Dartford for UKIP. I love the town and its surrounding countryside where I rode regularly in Joydens Wood.

“There is little doubt we can shake things up in Dartford and it is my view that things desperately need being shaken up."

Ms Jones, who worked for TG Baynes law firm, has contested several elections for UKIP in south east London for Lambeth Council as well as the London Assembly, London European MEP elections and Dulwich in the last general election.