A disgraced former Labour chief whip in Waltham Forest has emerged as the new chairman of Ukip in Ealing.

Last year Waltham Forest Council found Afzal Akram tried to fix a controversial planning application by influencing a member of the planning committee.

He texted Labour colleague Cllr Karen Bellamy over for plans to convert Leytonstone's Colgrave Arms pub into a mosque during a meeting in September 2012.

Cllr Akram, the former cabinet member for the economy, sent a message saying: "I hope you are going to support this one".

The bid was subsequently approved, in line with the recommendation of council officers, but the chair of the planning committee, Cllr Peter Barnett, made a formal complaint about Cllr Akram’s conduct.

A disciplinary panel found him guilty of trying to influence the decision and his punishment was left to the Labour party, which banned him from sitting on committees for six months. He left the council soon after.

The 46-year-old was elected at Ukip’s annual general meeting at The Grange Pub in Ealing Common on Tuesday.

Mr Akram, who is of Pakistani heritage, reportedly joined the right wing, eurosceptic, anti-immigration party about three months ago after becoming “disenchanted” with Labour.