CHRISTCHURCH’S first Ukip councillor will be back to claim her seat despite not having been in the country since before the May 7 elections, her party says.

Cllr Janet Abbott made political history last month even though she was away in the US and not around for much of the campaign or the results.

She has until July 7 to sign a declaration of acceptance saying she will serve as a member for the Grange ward on Christchurch Borough Council.

Ukip agent Terry Spooner stressed she would not be claiming any allowances until she was back in Christchurch and carrying out her work as a councillor.

Mr Spooner said Cllr Abbott was in America honouring a “long-standing family commitment”.

“She’s been away for two months. This has been a long-term plan. She was always coming back by June 30,” he said.

“She’s not technically a fully-fledged councillor so she won’t be claiming anything.”

He said he had been in touch with her by email and she would be signing her declaration of acceptance in time.

The council’s website currently lists her as having a 100 per cent absence record after she missed two meetings of the full council and one of the planning board. The council received apologies from her for those meetings.

The Grange ward on Christchurch Borough Council saw two members elected last month – Conservative Denise Jones with 645 votes and Janet Abbott for Ukip on 635. Another Ukip candidate, Carl Williams, was present for the campaign and the election count, but came fourth in the poll with 547 votes.