A FORMER East Lancashire borough Labour mayor has defected to Ukip claiming his old party had lost touch with its traditional supporters.

Michael Madigan represented Labour on Blackburn council for 25 years undefeated.

The political veteran has now joined the local branch of Ukip.

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Mr Madigan, mayor in 1986/1987, said: “I have given many hours to the Labour Party but it has changed dramatically and no longer represents the views of many former loyal supporters.

“I believe that Ukip is now the party of the working class.

“The Labour Party’s outright opposition to welfare reform has not done them any credit.

“It caused the development of parallel communities by the promotion of multiculturalism.

“Their policies have contributed to the radicalisation of young Muslims with the imposition of political correctness, the relaxation of border controls, an illegal war in Iraq and importantly the issue of too many work permits for clerics from the Indian sub-continent.

Mr Madigan, a married father-of-three, assisted former Labour MP Barbara Castle and helped select her successor Jack Straw.

Jack Straw’s secretary Damian Talbot said: “It’s sad Michael has defected but the party that represents the interests of ordinary people in Blackburn is Labour not Ukip.”

Blackburn Tory leader Mike Lee said: “This defection shows how Labour has lost touch with its grass roots.”

UKIP’s deputy leader and East Lancashire Euro-MP Paul Nuttall said, “We are delighted to have Michael Madigan join us.”