THE successor to Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe was a member of the Labour party several years ago, but says the Conservatives were always aware of this.

Solicitor Helen Grant was selected last week as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for the second safest Tory seat in Kent, Maidstone and The Weald.

The selection was sparked by Miss Widdecombe's decision to stand down at the next General Election.

But it has been revealed that in July 2004 Mrs Grant, who lives in south London, became a member of the Labour party in Reigate and Banstead.

She said: "I never attended any of their meetings, made no donations and did no canvassing or campaigning work for them at all.

"I have never denied my association with the Labour party and talked of it in newspaper interviews published in the summer of 2006.

"The Conservative Party head office has always been aware of my brief association with Labour.

"I have always been up front about it and it is set out in some detail on my initial application to become an approved candidate for the party."

Mrs Grant added that she was approached by the Croydon Labour party, who asked her to consider standing as a Labour councillor in Croydon, but that she did not put forward an application.

She confirmed she left the party before joining the Conservatives in 2006.

Since joining the party Mrs Grant has attracted the attention of its leader, David Cameron, who placed her on his A-list of candidates, aimed at improving the number of women and ethnic candidates.

She has also worked as an advisor to shadow home secretary, David Davis.

Alan Chell, chairman of Maidstone and The Weald Conservative Association, said he was not made aware of Mrs Grant’s association with Labour at the selection event, held on January 20, in Maidstone.

He said: "I do understand Conservative Central Office knew that information. It was for them to decide how important it was.

"We are very happy with Helen as our candidate. We grilled her on various issues and it came across she is very skilled and committed to the Conservative Party."