The leader of Thanet council says she stands by the decision not to pursue a compulsory purchase of Manston Airport after the government announced it was to oversee a review.

Cllr Iris Johnson said she was confident the council had taken the right decision not to proceed with a CPO in partnership with the American consortium Riveroak, which had offered to meet the costs.

Transport Minister John Hayes made the announcement of a review during a visit to the airport site on Thursday. He has come under fire from Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who is standing for Thanet South in the election.

Mr Farage accused the Conservative minister of cynical political manouvering ahead of the May poll, saying the government wanted to kick the issue into the long grass.

Cllr Johnson urged the different parties involved in Manston to have “round table” talks and expressed concern at the time it had taken for the government to act, saying it was provided with the the council papers two months ago.

“I have tried to get RiverOak and the new owners [Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave] to meet. There were some discussions early on. In an ideal world, Riveroak, the government and the new owners would sit down together.”

On the issue about whether the council had been right to decline a CPO in partnership with RiverOak, she said:

“I am quite clear we made the right decision. It is very important that anyone who does become a partner in the CPO has a viable plan.”

Meanwhile, Ukip leader Mr Farage said: "The Tory-led government’s announcement of yet another review over Manston Airport today is one of the most cynical manoeuvres we’ve seen in a long time in Thanet. I am gobsmacked that John Hayes MP, flanked by the local Tories, would seek to kick Manston Airport into the long grass like this."

Announcing that the government was to appoint external consultants to review the CPO papers, Mr Hayes said: “I recognise the strong interest in keeping Manston Airport open which is why the government is leaving no stone unturned in the battle to secure its future. The consultant will review papers from RiverOak and Thanet council and determine decisions about the future of Manston.

“I want to make it clear that we are not off-loading responsibility, we are bringing in world leading experts to get this done thoroughly and professionally and we begin this process tomorrow.

“While it is down to Thanet District Council ultimately to agree a deal, the government is doing everything possible to support them in finding a way forward."