A POLITICAL maverick who has been involved with every major party at Harrow Council has denied trying to join the UK Independence Party (UKIP).  

Independent Labour Councillor Husain Akhtar has also been a Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Labour, and Independent councillor over the years, but his alleged recent bid to join UKIP was rejected as he was not seen as a ‘suitable candidate’, the party claims.  

Mr Akhtar vehemently denies he requested to join UKIP.  

A UKIP London branch spokesman said: “I can confirm that Mr Akhtar contacted a number of people in UKIP about six to eight weeks ago expressing an interest to join. We have been receiving a lot of similar interest from other sitting councillors, but rather than take anyone we are only interested in those who have shown a clear commitment to put the interests of their constituents above their own self-aggrandisement.”  

Chairman of UKIP for Harrow Jeremy Zeid, who last month welcomed the first Harrow Council UKIP Councillor Stanley Sheinwald, laughed off suggestions that Mr Akhtar would be allowed to join the party.  

“He can join over my dead body,” he said. “He has been with every party and I will fight tooth and nail to keep him out.”  

Mr Akhtar said: “UKIP never attracted me nor I ever thought of joining them, approached them and applied to join them or will ever join them. The name UKIP makes me sick. If they still insist, then they must prove their claim.”