A Ukip county councillor is refusing to back his party’s local general election candidate because of her notorious “ting tong” remark.

Cllr David Baker is also shunning Janice Atkinson because of her obscene hand gesture against protesters this year.

He said: “I do not want to be tarred with the same brush as Ms Atkinson.

“I have decided to make it absolutely clear that I cannot support her in her campaign.”

Cllr Baker, who represents the Romney Marsh ward, said he had refused to support her as a newly-selected PPC for Folkestone and Hythe following an increasing number of constituents raising concerns about her selection.

He said:“There are several reasons, two are because of her comments where she referred to a lady from Thailand as a ‘ting tong’ and of her finger gestures to protesters.

“I do not consider these actions to be representative of a PPC in Folkestone and Hythe.

“The people of Romney Marsh are intelligent and very caring people and I have built up a good friendship and understanding with my constituents.”

But Ms Atkinson said this week: “David chose to support another candidate who lost.

“I won with a big majority.

“This is a straightforward fight between Ukip and the Conservatives and infighting doesn’t help.”

Cllr Baker said he has already told Ms Atkinson of his snub and he will instead campaign for Ukip candidates fighting next May’s district elections, which are on the same day as the general election.

Ms Atkinson last November been selected by constituency branch members in a majority vote for the general election, taking on the Conservative incumbent Damian Collins.

She is currently MEP for the South East but caused outrage last August when she referred to a Thai constituent in Thanet as a “ting tong from somewhere” after a BBC interview.

The victim of the insult was Fa Munday, a mobile food trader from Ramsgate.

Both she and her husband Vince were found to be Ukip supporters and had agreed to be filmed while Ms Atkinson met members of the public in the district.

Ms Atkinson’s own party leader, Nigel Farage, had to apologise to the couple.

Ms Atkinson also said sorry after her comments had been recorded by BBC South East Today, saying her words were “poor judgement and naivety rather than malice.”

In May she had been caught on camera giving a one-fingered salute to protesters who had heckled her during a rally in Ashford.

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