A company in Canterbury is to give staff time off in order to vote in next month's General Election - and is encouraging other firms to do the same.

Family-run furniture and design company Herringbone Kitchens will give employees two hours off so they can visit the polling station.

The city is one of the ultra-marginal seats which will be a key battleground between Labour, which sprang a shock victory in the 2017 election with Rosie Duffield, and the Conservatives.

Labour won by a wafer-thin 187 vote majority.

Elly Simmons, a director at the firm, explained: "It shows us just how important every single vote is in this election."

And she urged others to follow suit.

She added: "The impact on this election will be huge to the nation in coming years and now is the time to make sure your employees have been part of this decision.

"Let them be counted and heard, and make them feel like they are making an impact with their democratic rights. Business leaders have the opportunity to inspire and encourage, now is the time to do so.

"Encourage your team to vote by giving them the opportunity to do so during the working day, don't be the barrier they face to make it in time for the polls.

"Naturally there are cost implications to this that can be difficult to weigh up as a small business however, for this election in particular it's important that as many people as possible get out to vote."

Read more: For the latest on the 2019 General Election

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