It was supposed to be a civilised debate but it has taken all but a few weeks for the Conservative party to descend into acrimony over whether the UK should stay or leave the EU.

We are still four months away from the poll but if the early skirmishes and internal recriminations are anything to go by, we are in for a torrid time over what has always been a politically toxic issue for the party.

And at the centre of the debate are the claims and counter-claims over an issue of particular relevance to Kent - the fate of migrants currently camped out in Calais.

Those supporting staying in have successfully secured some traction on their assertion that, if we were to leave, the French authorities would lose no time in dismantling border checks at Calais and end the arrangements that permit UK border officials to carry out checks there.

They have been helped in fomenting this unease by the intervention of the French president Francois Hollande, who referred rather elliptically to “consequences” over immigration should the UK vote for a Brexit.

There is a certain logical inconsistency that the “remain” supporters are, on the one hand, arguing that no-one can say with any certainty what a Brexit would mean but are absolutely certain about one thing: we should standby for migrant camps cropping up in Dover and Folkestone if the UK decides it wants out.

The “out” camp has retaliated with complaints about smears and unfounded claims but it is strange that it appears to be on the back foot on an issue which should be one of its strong suits.

How many times have we heard the refrain that the only way to halt the influx of asylum seekers and economic migrants is to “take back control” over the UK’s borders?

That message is being drowned out by the ramped up rhetoric over the contention that Calais “jungle” camps may be relocated in Dover or Folkestone.

The referendum campaign is, of course, a marathon rather than a sprint but at this point, those backing Brexit are trailing and need to recover some of the ground they have lost.

HOW Kent MPs are lining up in the EU Referendum