Political leaders have faced off in a pre-election debate.

Outgoing Medway Council leader, Cllr Alan Jarrett and his opposite number, Medway Labour Group leader Cllr Vince Maple, met to contest the issues which cloak the upcoming election which is just two weeks away.

The event - hosted by the team who run the The Local Authority newsletter - was held at MidKent College in Gillingham last night (Wednesday, April 19).

The two leaders answered a number of audience-submitted questions covering topics such as the economy, environment, Brexit, and housing.

At many points during the evening, people were urged to remember their photographic IDs when they head to the polls on Thursday, May 4.

Cllr Jarrett - who is stepping down at the election - hit back at Labour's pledge to create 1,000 new jobs in the Towns, saying the Tories will create 3,000 high-skilled jobs through the creation of Innovation Park Medway, the council's on-going business park development next to Rochester Airport.

He batted away jeers and laughs from the audience after he said he was pleased the UK had left the EU, despite it being a "slow burn" for the economy.

However, cheers went up after he concluded: "We put Medway first; Medway people voted for Brexit and we the council will do our best to deliver anything the government brings down relating to that and I think in the medium term, Britain and Medway is going to be a better place for Brexit."

On the issue of education for children with SEND needs, Cllr Maple said one of the ways this could be helped is finally beginning the construction of a new special needs school in Cornwallis Avenue, Gillingham, which has long been delayed.

Cllr Jarret blamed the Department for Education for the project not getting underway.

On the environment, Cllr Maple said whilst he thinks the authority - which declared a climate emergency in 2019 - has a good climate action plan, he believes the administration has been too slow to act.

He said: "I hope when you step down, Alan, you don't end up driving a fire engine or a police car because if this response to the emergency is at speed, it's not good enough."

Chatham representative Cllr Maple also attacked the council's delays on the development of a new Local Plan, saying: "If there's a Labour administration, for 10 minutes on May 14, I will be holding just a tiny celebration - or commiseration - to recognise that is the day 20 years ago we last had a Local Plan.

"I don't think Clintons is selling cards, so don't worry."

He said a Labour administration would only continue to pursue city status if research showed decision makers in Whitehall could get behind the idea.

Cllr Jarrett hit out at people who claim the city status bid is a "vanity project", saying the benefits include outside investment.

He said: "These people just don't get it, do they?

"They just don't get the enormous benefits which would flow from that sort of accolade."

Medway Council's elections will be held on May 4.