Kerry Smith, former UKIP candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock is to stand as an Independent candidate at the May General Election. 

The ex-UKIP councillor quit as parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock after a phone call was leaked to the press where he made offensive comments about homosexuals and Chinese people.

Mr Smith talked about UKIP's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group - referring to them as BLT UKIP or "what the old poofter groups call themselves".

He also made jokes referring to a Chinese woman as a "chinky bird" and joked about having "a peasant's hunt through Chigwell village".

The outrage following the comments forced him to resign from the UKIP party and step down as UKIP parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and East Thurrock. 

He now plans to stand as an Independent parliamentary candidate at the general election for the South Basildon and East Thurrock seat. 

Mike Le-Surf, parliamentary candidate for South Basildon and  East Thurrock, commented on the change.

He said: "The sideshow continues. Mr. Smith has been a member of both the Conservative and Ukip parties and is now standing as an independent parliamentary candidate in South Basildon and East Thurrock. I think residents may now be getting a bit fed up with the electoral games being played out by the right-wing parties in our constituency."