Thanet council's Ukip administration is set to suffer another defection ahead of a crucial meeting tomorrow on the fate of Manston airport.

Cllr Emma Dawson, who represents Cliftonville West Ward and was elected in May, is expected to confirm she is to join the Conservative group.

It brings to seven the number of councillors who have quit the party in the space of six months.

Ukip lost its overall majority when Cllr Jeff Elenor, who had been a long-standing member of the party, defected to the Democratic Independent Group joining Beverly Martin, Helen Smith, Ash Ashbee and Konnor Collins.

Cllr Dawson, a backbencher, is said to be leaving because of general unease about the ruling Ukip administration and not specifically about Manston.

However, the timing of her departure could not have come at a worse time ahead of an extraordinary cabinet meeting tomorrow where the council is expected to confirm that it will not go ahead with a Compulsory Purchase Order for Manston.