Top Labour figure dumps Ed Miliband for Ukip

One of Labour's most senior figures has resigned from the party and will be supporting Ukip because of Ed Miliband's failure to offer a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union.



Harriet Yeo, who was chairman of Labour's ruling body between 2012 and 2013, is so disillusioned with Mr Miliband's refusal to offer a vote that she will be throwing her support behind Nigel Farage's party.

She represents the most senior Labour figure to switch allegiances to Ukip to date, although there are suggestions that several Labour MPs are considering defecting.

Mrs Yeo was previously chairman of the National Executive Committee, which oversees the Labour Party, and president of the Transport and Salaried Staffs' Association union and has been involved in the trade union movement for more than 20 years.

The Telegraph understands that while Mrs Yeo has resigned her membership of the Labour Party she has not formally joined Ukip. However, she will be giving the party her support in the run up to the General Election.

Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, said: "I'm delighted that UKIP can now count upon the support of such respected figure as Harriet Yeo.

"A life long Trade Unionist and Labour Party member who served as Chair of Ed Miliband's NEC she is yet another voice calling for Britain to have a choice about its future. We are welcoming support from across the board and Harriet's support is eveidence of this".

Mr Miliband has come under repeated pressures from his own MPs and Labour party donors to commit to a referendum on Europe.

He has repeatedly refused and over the past fortnight tried to use the party's position on Europe to gain leverage with business leaders.

Mrs Yeo has previously attacked the "awful" culture inside her trade union and said she has witnessed "outrageous" behaviour behind closed doors.

She recounted how male colleagues deliberately organised a lap-dancing party to clash with a black-tie dinner that had been arranged by female union officials to celebrate 100 years of International Women’s Day.

We are saddled with a most distressing choice come the election. Frankly, I don't believe any of them are of the right calibre for the job.

Which is why people will vote for the 'devil they know' (Cameron) rather than Miliband.

What beats me is that Labour have nothing left to lose now by ditching Miliband since they are already certain to lose the general election yet they continue to cling to him and make the result even worse.