UKIP in Keighley has become embroiled in a bitter war of words with Labour after one of its councillors announced his resignation.

Keighley West member Brian Morris issued a plea for “bad press” on any Bradford Labour councillors after criticising a leaflet sent to ward homes.

It featured comments made by Ukip Keighley town councillor Samuel Fletcher on the NHS, which have now prompted Cllr Fletcher to resign from Ukip.

In a message posted on Twitter in 2013, Mr Fletcher had written: “Personally, I would completely scrap the NHS and require everyone to take out private health insurance.”

In his tweet, Cllr Morris said: “Hi All Kippers. Can anyone who knows, or has any information or bad press, on any Labour councillor in Keighley or Bradford that can be verified please let me know as soon as possible.

“The reason for this is it looks as if the dirty tricks brigade is working overtime to undermine Ukip in Keighley. So we must be prepared to retaliate shot for shot if it continues.”

Cllr Morris has since said: “I like to shoot from the hip. No-one will benefit from saying things like that in public.

“I have had quite a number of responses to my tweet already.”

Jason Smith, Ukip chairman for Bradford, said: “It’s Cllr Morris’s personal opinion, not the opinion of Ukip. I don’t think it’s the right way to go about business in politics. I want to debate with Labour on policies.

“If Labour wants to dig dirt on our candidates, I think Cllr Morris is making a point. Mr Fletcher fell on his sword over his comments.”

In a statement explaining Cllr Fletcher’s resignation, a Ukip spokesman said: “Cllr Fletcher acknowledges and accepts he made publicly available comments on social media, which are contrary to official party policy, particularly with regard to the National Health Service.

“He hopes residents of his Bracken Bank and Ingrow ward, who elected him to Keighley Town Council in December 2013, will understand.

“He will be standing again for re-election to Keighley Town Council in the elections on May 7, as an Independent candidate.”

A Keighley Labour spokesman confirmed it had published the leaflet featuring Cllr Fletcher’s comment on the NHS.

But Labour and Bradford Council leader, Cllr David Green, denied there was any dirty tricks campaign. He added: “Cllr Morris and his mates need to spend their time on their policies, rather than trying to fight out what would appear to be a negative and dirty campaign against other people.”