DISGRACED former Conservative MP Jonathan Aitken has been warned he could be frustrated in his bid to become a UK Independence Party candidate at the election in his former Kent seat.

Mr Aitken is reported to be toying with the idea of applying to become UKIP’s candidate for the Thanet South constituency.

He will not make up his mind until after the party’s annual conference in Bristol next week.

But UKIP Kent MEP Nigel Farage said his adoption as a candidate would not be automatic. While he personally would support any bid by the former Tory MP, party rules meant Mr Aitken would have to go through the same selection process as every other would-be candidate.

“As far as his candidacy is concerned, we have discussed it. He has not made his mind up. He is going to our party conference and will decide after that whether to fill in a nomination form. If it does get to that stage, there will undoubtedly be a debate about whether it would be a good or a bad thing,” he said.

“As far as I am concerned, he is a reformed character who remains incredibly popular in his old constituency and he has a long history of Euro-scepticism and I would be happy to support his nomination form.”

He stressed that despite Mr Aitken’s high-profile, he would have to abide by the party’s rules on selection.

“We have an independent committee that will interview candidates and that process is underway in Kent and other parts of the south east.”

Mr Aitken’s suggestion that he may stand for UKIP comes six months after his failed attempt to resurrect his political career as the Conservative candidate in the same seat.

Party leader Michael Howard blocked the come-back, saying Mr Aitken’s days as a Tory MP were at an end.