UKIP intends to contest every seat in the May 2 2013 Cambridgeshire County Council election.

Councillor Peter Reeve, of Cambridgeshire County Council, expects UKIP to announce a full list of candidates by the close of nominations and predicts a strong showing for the party.

He said: “We are trying to get candidates in every seat across every part of Cambridgeshire and right across the east of England.

“It could be one of the biggest political earthquakes that could happen. We could change voting patterns and win an awful lot of seats ourselves.

“In fact, the evidence is we would win a lot of seats if we put up a full list of candidates.”

Cllr Reeve is convinced voters from Fenland will come out in force in support of UKIP on polling day.

He said: “Fenland is an area of huge untapped potential for us. In the first round of voting for the Police and Crime Commisioner elections, without targeting the area, the UKIP candidate beat the Tory candidate.

“We are pretty certain we will pick up lots of councillors.

“Councils are putting up everyone’s tax and lots of people are ready for a chance.

“The demographic is exactly what UKIP has done well in. We are strong in rural areas, especially rural areas with market towns nearby.”

Cllr Reeve claims councillors from other parties are fearful of contesting seats against UKIP candidates.

He said: “We already had some of the Wisbech councillors begging us not to field UKIP candidates against them because they know we will beat them.”

But Cllr Samantha Hoy, Cambridgeshire County Council Member for Wisbech North, is dismissive of UKIPs chances of success in Wisbech.

She said: “UKIP may think they will beat us but their one big issue is trying to leave the EU and David Cameron has proposed a referendum on Europe.

“Europe is a problem that only a national government can solve. What else does UKIP have to offer?

“I will be standing on my record and people will hopefully think I’ve worked hard for them.

“UKIP have not got a track record of being councillors in the area. People need to think about all the things a councillor can offer to a community.”

The last county council election was held on Thursday June 4 2009. Cambridgeshire County Council is currently made up of 39 Conservative councillors, 21 Liberal Democrats, three Labour, three Independant councillors, one Green and two UKIP representatives.