A former Merton councillor has pledged to step into Nigel Farage’s shoes as leader of UKIP if he is struck down by illness.

Suzanne Evans, who defected from the Merton Conservatives to join the party in May 2013, has been catapulted to the top of the party and is now deputy chairman.

Miss Evans is hoping to be elected as a member of Parliament in Shrewsbury and Atcham in Shropshire, after she left the borough of Merton when she failed to be re-elected for the Hillside ward seat in Wimbledon.

She lost to Conservative candidate Councillor Daniel Holden with 342 votes to his 1,269 in the elections in May last year.

In an interview with Sky News yesterday, she said if Mr Farage asked, she would take over.

Asked what she would do if Mr Farage asked her to 'carry on the mantle', Miss Evans yesterday told Sky News: "Well if he said that to me, of course I would, yes.

"But he’s going to win and I cannot wait to see him in the House of Commons, he will really shake things up, it is a very exciting prospect."

The question of the leader’s health arose after Mr Farage revealed that he is suffering from a recurring spinal injury that means he is on medication and making hospital visits twice a week.

The UKIP leader said he would quit if he fails to win the south Thanet constituency seat where he hopes to be elected as an MP in a few weeks.

Miss Evans, who still has a house in Wimbledon, added: "His health is absolutely fine and whilst Nigel is leader he has my 100 per cent support.

"He’s a great leader, look what he’s done for this party over 22 years, battered, bruised, physically, verbally, in all manner of ways. He is the man for the job."

Miss Evans has been tipped for success due to her strong media performances and the fact that she wrote the party’s election manifesto.

After its launch, she was apparently praised for her assured and confident performance and she received Mr Farage’s personal thanks.

In January she stepped in as policy chief after Tim Aker quit amid reports he was failing to deliver it on time.

Miss Evans, who is a former BBC local radio journalist, works freelance as a PR and marketing consultant and in 2011 founded a health charity for women.