The leader of Thanet council has dropped further hints that he will enter the race to become the next leader of UKIP.

The party has been rocked by the shock decision of MEP Steven Woolfe to quit the party, saying it was ungovernable and was on a spiral to disaster.

Cllr Chris Wells reacted to the news by saying that the idea of entering the race was still on his mind but it could be as part of a joint ticket.

He said: “There is a role for a candidate or team unattached to the warring factions in and around the London and Westminster bubble.”

But he would not elaborate on whether that would be on the back of a joint ticket and whether he had a running mate in mind or been approached by anyone.

Mr Wells first floated the idea of joining the race

during an interview on KMTV’s “Paul On Politics” show.

Although stopping short of an outright declaration, he intimated that it could be an option.

“Well, when it first came up, it was suggested...now it is being re-run, I have my two-year qualification this month, so watch this space - you never know,” he said.

“There is a role for a candidate or team unattached to the warring factions in and around the London and Westminster bubble" - UKIP council leader Chris Wells

Responding to the claim that the party was in disarray, he acknowledged that recent events had not shown the party in a good light.

“It is pretty clear cut that whoever was going to take over from Nigel Farage was always going to have a pretty tough job,” he said.

Since winning the council election in 2015, UKIP has suffered a series of defections and for a period lost a working majority.

Having said that, its support has held up relatively well in by-elections and it recently took two seats that meant it regained control of the authority.

Bookmakers say the current favourite for the race to succeed is party deputy leader Paul Nuttall.