As the Tories head to Manchester for their annual conference, their mood will be soured by the news that a Conservative candidate who contested a West Yorkshire seat in the general election has defected to UKIP after becoming disillusioned with David Cameron over Europe.

Janice Small stood for the Conservative Party in the marginal seat of Batley and Spen in May 2010.

The seat was retained by Labour MP Mike Wood with a majority of nearly four and a half thousand.

Small's move represents a trend which is seeing an increasing number of activists and councillors leaving the Conservative Party and joining UKIP.

Earlier this month two Tory councillors in Hampshire joined UKIP after becoming frustrated at the government's lack of support for the armed forces.

Ms Small says David Cameron's eurosceptic narrative died the moment he was elected leader of the Conservative Party.

She said: "I left the Conservative party as I had lost the fight for an In or Out referendum on Europe.

"I voted for David Cameron as leader as he was sold to the membership as the most Eurosceptic leader we would have. Once selected his narrative died and now as PM he believes we are better off in Europe.

"It has been made quite plain by by Conservative Central office that candidates with my views will not be tolerated and those MPs who share my views are mercilessly bullied by the whips.

"UKIP under Nigel Farage is flourishing and it is conceded by Cameron that we will be the No1 party at the Euro elections. We are not just about Europe but have the right policies for Britain on immigration, education, law and order and the economy - we have to as the fourth largest party in Britain."