A Labour Party candidate received surprise backing from a former Liberal Democrat peer.

Uma Kumaran, Labour’s parliamentary candidate in Harrow East, has welcomed the backing of the Lib Dem peer Lord Matthew Oakeshott - who has donated £10,000 to the Labour campaign.

The wealthy peer, who resigned from the Lib Dems in May after warning that the party was “heading for disaster” under Nick Clegg’s leadership, has donated a total of £600,000 to 30 Labour and 15 left-of-centre Liberal Democrat election candidates in a bid to ensure an Ed Miliband-led government.

All donations were made discreetly over the last two months, but Lord Oakeshott has urged Liberal Democrat voters to lend their support to Labour to prevent another five years of Tory government in Westminster.

Candidate Uma Kumaran, who received a share of the donation, said: "I am delighted to have the support of a prominent Liberal Democrat like Lord Oakeshott for my campaign here in Harrow East.

“We know that the well-funded Tory machine will always have a huge financial advantage over our own campaign. But, with this donation, we will be able to reach more local residents and talk about the issues that matter to them.

“Lord Oakeshott has appealed for Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters to come together to hold off the threat of another five years of right-wing Tory government. And here in Harrow East, it’s only Labour that can beat the Tories."