A Tory mayor has shown his support for Ukip and says a Cameron-Farage coalition would provide the shake-up the government needs.

Conservative district and town councillor for Beaconsfield, Steve Jones, is stepping down from politics in May but after being approached by the town’s Ukip parliamentary candidate Tim Scott, he has suggested he will switch his allegiances.

Bucks Free Press:

Ukip leader, Nigel Farage.

He said: “I personally would love to see a Conservative-led coalition with a Ukip parliament, because I think it would see what I call traditional Conservative values coming to the fore.

“There’s a very large majority [Dominic Grieve won the Beaconsfield seat with 61 per cent of the vote in 2010], but my feelings are I’m more likely to vote Ukip.

“I feel Ukip needs to exist until we get a real recognition of how unrepresented people’s concerns are over the sheer volume of people living here.

“I would like to make clear I’m not opposed to immigration providing it’s controlled.

“I think Ukip would actually happily not be here in many respects, but Ukip are an essential thorn in the side of the Conservatives. I talk to a lot of people in the streets who have huge concerns about uncontrolled immigration.”

Conservative representative Dominic Grieve had one of the largest winning majorities at the General Election in 2010, but Cllr Jones believes Ukip has a chance to become at least the second biggest party in south Buckinghamshire, and Beaconsfield.

Bucks Free Press:

Conservative leader, David Cameron.

Speaking to the Bucks Free Press, he said he was approached to join the party and could still become a member and support them on May 7 – with his main concerns over Europe and immigration.

He added: “Cameron keeps saying if you want to vote for Europe you have to vote for us, but Ukip are his thorn in the side.

“I do feel had he been a bit more embracing or recognising of people’s concerns over Europe there would be no need for Ukip, so in many respects I think he has only got himself to blame.

“Nobody is suggesting for a minute we should close the borders, for me it just comes back to that word, control.

“I think Ukip has a value in keeping the pressure on the Conservatives in regards with its position in Europe and immigration.”

He added that he also feels at district and town level Tory councillors are often not appreciated for their hard work.

Despite his future political views, Cllr Jones says he does look back fondly on his time in both councils.

Ensuring the first stage of a relief road was included in any plans to develop Wilton Park and cutting the amount of meetings at the town council were two of his biggest achievements, he said.