LABOUR members would leave the party “in their droves” if it made a deal with Ukip in a hung parliament, Labour London mayoral hopeful Diane Abbott warned last night.

Her comments came after Ukip leader Nigel Farage said he would consider such a deal if his party held the balance of power after next year’s general election.

Mr Farage said he would “do a deal with the devil” if it secured Britain’s exit from the European Union.

Ukip currently has two MPs, both of whom are Tory defectors who won subsequent by-elections in their constituencies, but the party could well win more next May.

“Given our constitutional history and precedent, the monarch would expect the larger of the two parties to attempt to form either a formal coalition or some kind of support mechanism or deal where you can actually have a government there that can get a budget through Parliament,” Mr Farage told LBC Radio.

“If we find ourselves — and it’s an if, of course it is — in a position where we actually do hold the balance of power, whilst everybody thinks it’s more likely that it’s David Cameron who would need Ukip support, it’s not absolutely impossible that it could be Ed Miliband.

“But I disagree with almost everything Mr Miliband stands for and it wouldn’t be easy.”

On the same programme, Mr Farage said he “felt sorry” for a former Ukip candidate who had used the word “chinky” to describe a Chinese person. “If you and your mates are going out for a Chinese, what do you say you’re going for?” he asked.

Ms Abbott, who has indicated she will stand to be Labour’s next candidate for mayor of London, told the Star that Mr Farage’s comments proved Ukip should not be considered a respectable force in politics.

“I don’t think there can be any question of entering into an arrangement, formal or informal, with Ukip,” she said.

“Labour members would leave in their droves.”

A Labour HQ spokesman said: “Labour is aiming to win the next general election, and we’ll do everything in our power to do that.”