Labour has moved to quash rumours it could join forces with the Lib Dems at County Hall to keep UKIP from being the official opposition.

Cllr Gordon Cowan, the leader of the party's 13-strong group, spoke out to dismiss speculation rife at County Hall after being re-elected to the job.

Mr Cowan said: "There have been rumours circulating that we wanted to form a Lab-Lib coalition at Kent County Council but this is not the case.

"I can confirm the Labour group is not pairing up with anyone. We have our own policies and a clear vision for how Kent should be.

"We have campaigned hard against the Conservative's excessive spending on consultants and their aggressive cuts to services used by the vulnerable in Kent."

Labour would continue to campaign against the coalition's continuing spending cuts to local councils, he added.

Cllr Cowan saw off a leadership challenge from the returning county councillor Dr Mike Eddy, who is back on the county council in the Deal seat he lost in 2009.

Labour's announcement means the 17-strong UKIP group at County Hall will be confirmed as the formal opposition group later this month.